Jimmie Hugh Rutledge
Agency patch
Sergeant

Jimmie Hugh Rutledge

Berkeley Police Department — Berkeley, CA
End of Watch June 16, 1973
Age 50
Tour of Duty 23 yrs
Badge S-15
The Vigil Panel 112 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sergeant Jimmie Rutledge was shot and killed with his own weapon while attempting to arrest a prowler in the 2200 block of Russell Street. Officers had responded to the scene for reports of a burglary but were unable to find the prowler. Sergeant Rutledge remained on the scene, and the suspect returned. As he attempted to arrest the man, the suspect began to struggle and gained control of Sergeant Rutledge's weapon. After shooting him, the suspect took hostages in a nearby home. The suspect killed a four-year-old hostage before being shot and killed by other officers. Sergeant Rutledge was a United States Navy WWII and Korean War veteran who served with the Berkeley Police Department for 23 years.

Survivors

He was survived by two daughters and a son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-4F1DCC73
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 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.
Sergeant Rutledge gave the Berkeley Police Department 23 years.
Thank you for your service to the Berkeley community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Berkeley, Alameda County, CA
Platform Identity bpd.alameda.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 16, 1973
Tour of Duty 23 yrs
Age 50
Badge Number S-15
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Officer's handgun

Military Service

Jimmie Hugh Rutledge served in the U.S. Navy (1942–1948) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Sergeant Jimmie Hugh Rutledge is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 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 53 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Berkeley Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Berkeley Police Department
2
of 2 officers
100% Felonious
CA — Statewide
974
of 1,837 officers
53% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,759 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Jimmie Hugh Rutledge's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Jimmie Hugh Rutledge Compares

Age at Death
50
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
23
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jimmie Hugh Rutledge is highlighted in Jun.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Jimmie Hugh Rutledge was killed by officer's handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location

Military Service

Jimmie Hugh Rutledge served in the U.S. Navy (1942–1948) before joining law enforcement.

Visit Jimmie Hugh Rutledge’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Berkeley Police Department are honored on badge.nw.