Roll of Honor
Richard Wayne Hale
Incident
Deputy Inspector General Richard Hale was killed in a vehicle crash on FM 51, north of Decatur, Texas.
He was returning to Gainesville, Texas, following a meeting with state prosecutors in Decatur. His department vehicle collided with an oncoming tractor-trailer.
Deputy Inspector General Hale had served in law enforcement for 16 years. He had served with the Decatur Police Department before joining the Texas Juvenile Justice Department - Office of Inspector General.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and eight children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-95170345- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Richard. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Inspector General Hale gave the Texas Juvenile Justice Department 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the Austin community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Inspector General Hale.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Inspector General Richard Wayne Hale is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In TX, 653 of 2,421 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 27% of this state's fallen. That is 4 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Richard Wayne Hale's cause is highlighted.
How Richard Wayne Hale Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Richard Wayne Hale is highlighted in May.