Robert K. Hooker
Agency patch
Chief Deputy Sheriff

Robert K. Hooker

Felonious
End of Watch August 14, 1940
Age 44
Tour of Duty 21 yrs
The Vigil Panel 77 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Chief Deputy Robert Hooker was shot and killed as he and another deputy attempted to arrest two burglary suspects near Shattuck. They located the two suspects based on information from a citizen. The two men led the officers on a short foot pursuit until Chief Deputy Hooker caught them and ordered both to surrender. One of the suspects produced a .38-caliber handgun and shot Chief Deputy Hooker twice in the head and once in the chest, killing him instantly. A posse captured the suspects two hours later. One was shot and wounded seriously. Both, ages 22 and 23, were sentenced to life. One was denied parole in 1954. Chief Deputy Hooker had served with the Clinton County Sheriff's Department for 21 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-0C2A22BE
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

21 years. You could have gone home.
Chief Deputy Sheriff Hooker gave the Clinton County Sheriff's Office 21 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Carlyle community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief Deputy Sheriff Hooker.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Carlyle, Clinton County, IL
Platform Identity ccso.clinton.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 14, 1940
Tour of Duty 21 yrs
Age 44
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

Chief Deputy Sheriff Robert K. Hooker 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 IL, 842 of 1,318 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.9% of this state's fallen. That is 63.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Clinton County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Clinton County Sheriff's Office
2
of 2 officers
100% Felonious
IL — Statewide
842
of 1,318 officers
63.9% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert K. Hooker's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Robert K. Hooker Compares

Age at Death
44
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
21
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert K. Hooker is highlighted in Aug.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert K. Hooker was killed by handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Clinton County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.