Robert Sterling Hester

Memphis Police Department — Memphis, TN

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch January 12, 1983

Age 34

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

Badge 480

The Vigil Panel 126 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 93

Incident

Patrolman Robert Hester was killed when he was beaten and tortured after being taken hostage by a religious cult. Several hours prior, an off-duty police officer observed a purse snatching. Although he was unable to apprehend the suspect, he recognized the suspect, and he went with two other officers to the suspect's home to question him. When they arrived, they found no one home but were able to reach the suspect by phone. They were unable to understand the suspect on the phone, and a report was filed. Meanwhile, the suspect was at a house at 2239 Shannon Avenue with 13 other males. They were all members of a religious cult. The 13 men and the suspect had been drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana all day. The leader of the cult instructed the purse-snatching suspect to call the police and summon them to the house. When he called the police, he told them that he wanted to talk to officers about an earlier purse-snatching incident. Patrolman Hester and his partner were dispatched to the house. When Patrolman Hester and his partner arrived, they entered the house and quickly became aware that they were largely outnumbered by a group of crazed men. Patrolman Hester called for additional units to respond, and both officers attempted to diplomatically back out of the house. As they tried to exit, the group attacked them. One of the suspects was able to gain control of Patrolman Hester's partner's gun. The suspect then shot Patrolman Hester’s partner in the face. Patrolman Hester's partner was able to escape, but Patrolman Hester was captured by the group and beaten with his flashlight and gun. The first backup officer to arrive attempted to enter the house to save Patrolman Hester, but he was hit so hard upon entering the house that he was thrown from the porch. The second officer to enter went in shooting. He emptied his revolver and exited. After reloading, he again entered and again emptied his revolver in an attempt to save Patrolman Hester. When all of his ammunit

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Permanent identifier: BO-US-TN-908DAD64
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 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.
Patrolman Hester gave the Memphis Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Memphis 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

Department Memphis Police Department

Location Memphis, TN

Platform Identity mpd.shelby.tn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 12, 1983

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

Age 34

Badge Number 480

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's flashlight

Offender Seven suspects shot and killed

Military Service

Robert Sterling Hester served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Patrolman Robert Sterling Hester 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 TN, 498 of 769 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.8% of this state's fallen. That is 10.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Memphis Police Department, 53 of 94 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 56.4% of this agency's fallen.

Memphis Police Department

of 94 officers

56.4% Felonious

TN — Statewide

498

of 769 officers

64.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious