Roll of Honor
Incident
Undersheriff Martin Kempton, Sheriff Robert McBride, and Deputy Sheriff Kane Wooton were shot and killed as they approached a cabin where they intended to arrest two brothers and another man for draft evasion. During the exchange of gunfire, one suspect was also killed at the scene. A month later three suspects were captured by a U.S. Cavalry Patrol near Hachita, New Mexico. Three of the suspects, two of them brothers, were convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. Two were paroled in 1960 and pardoned in 1969; the third suspect died in prison on January 24, 1957, at the age of 86. At that time he was Arizona's oldest prisoner. A fourth suspect was killed at the scene.
Survivors
Undersheriff Kempton was survived by his wife and seven children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AZ-46AA713C- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Undersheriff Kempton served with the Graham County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Safford community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Undersheriff Kempton.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Undersheriff Martin R. Kempton 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 97,772 officers honored here.
In AZ, 204 of 330 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 61.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Graham County Sheriff's Office, 5 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Martin R. Kempton's cause is highlighted.
How Martin R. Kempton Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Martin R. Kempton is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Martin R. Kempton was killed by rifle.
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Graham County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
