John Mark "Dooley" Hardy
Agency patch
Patrolman First Class

John Mark "Dooley" Hardy

Abbeville Police Department — Abbeville, LA
Felonious
End of Watch December 24, 1992
Age 28
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
The Vigil Panel 138 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman John Hardy was shot and killed when he made a traffic stop at Felicity Street and Schlessinger Street in Abbeville at 11:40 pm. He was in the process of arresting the driver of the vehicle on outstanding warrants when the passenger of the vehicle walked up behind him and shot him in the head point-blank with a .45 caliber handgun. He was transported to Abbeville's hospital where he was pronounced dead at 12:11 am. The suspect was apprehended, convicted, and sentenced to life in prison. Officer Hardy had been with the Abbeville Police Department for 2 1/2 years. He is survived by his wife, daughter, mother, father, six brothers, step-brother, and grandmother. His father and a brother had served as Police Chief of the Abbeville Police Department.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, daughter, mother, father, six brothers, step-brother, and grandmother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-LA-D12CABAB
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman First Class Hardy gave the Abbeville Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Abbeville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman First Class Hardy.

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

Agency

Location Abbeville, LA
Platform Identity apd.vermilion.la.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 24, 1992
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Age 28
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun; .45 caliber
Offender Sentenced to life in prison

Patrolman First Class John Mark "Dooley" Hardy 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 LA, 364 of 595 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.2% of this state's fallen. That is 7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Abbeville Police Department
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
LA — Statewide
364
of 595 officers
61.2% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Mark "Dooley" Hardy's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How John Mark "Dooley" Hardy Compares

Age at End of Watch
28
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
2
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to life in prison

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Mark "Dooley" Hardy is highlighted in Dec.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Mark "Dooley" Hardy was killed by handgun; .45 caliber.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location