Roll of Honor
Henry Clyde Hatcher
Incident
Location: New Mexico Incident Date: Tuesday, September 22, 1931 Weapon: Handgun; .38 caliber Offender: Sentenced to 40 years
Special Officer Henry Hatcher succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained the previous day when he attempted to question a trespasser in the rail yards at Tucumcari, New Mexico.
The man suddenly drew a handgun and shot Officer Hatcher in the chest, inflicting a fatal wound. He was taken to a hospital in El Paso, Texas where he died the next day.
Two men, ages 22 and 26, were arrested a week later in El Centro, California. Both were identified by two men who saw them throw a pistol from a train box car near Vaughn, New Mexico, a few hours after Officer Hatcher was shot. Ballistics proved the pistol was the murder weapon. Both were convicted of second degree murder, and sentenced to 35 to 40 years on November 12, 1931. Both were from Massachusetts and served time there for breaking and entering. On November 18, 1938, one was pardoned by Governor Clyde Tingley.
Officer Hatcher was a U.S. Army veteran of WWI.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
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- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Special Officer Hatcher served with the Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the San Francisco community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Henry Clyde Hatcher served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Special Officer Henry Clyde Hatcher is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department, 15 of 23 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 65.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Henry Clyde Hatcher's cause is highlighted.
How Henry Clyde Hatcher Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 40 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Henry Clyde Hatcher is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Henry Clyde Hatcher was killed by handgun; .38 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
22 officers from Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
