Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff John Hart was shot and killed as he and the sheriff attempted to arrest two horse thieves.
He and one of the suspects were fatally wounded in the ensuing gun battle, and the county sheriff was wounded.
The surviving suspect fled the scene but was eventually apprehended and sentenced to eight years in prison.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OR-A41BC09E- 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
161 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Hart served with the Umatilla County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Pendleton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff O. John Hart 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 OR, 115 of 197 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58.4% of this state's fallen. That is 4.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Umatilla County Sheriff's 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. O. John Hart's cause is highlighted.
How O. John Hart Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. O. John Hart is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. O. John Hart was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Umatilla County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
