Robert B. Hutchings

Utah Highway Patrol — Salt Lake City, UT

Felonious

End of Watch July 20, 1976

Age 33

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

The Vigil Panel 117 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 15

Incident

Agent Robert Hutchings was shot and killed while participating in a narcotics operation. At the time, he was assigned to the Liquor Enforcement Division. Following an undercover drug-buy, the officers attempted to serve a warrant on a suspect. The suspect produced a shotgun and shot Agent Hutchings in the neck. Agent Hutchings and another officer returned fire, killing the suspect.

Survivors

Agent Hutchings had been with his agency for two years and was survived by his expectant wife and six children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-UT-63AE9CC0
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Agent Hutchings gave the Utah Highway Patrol 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Utah. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Agent Hutchings.

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

Agency

Department Utah Highway Patrol

Location Salt Lake City, UT

Platform Identity uhp.ut.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 20, 1976

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Age 33

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun

Offender Shot and killed

Agent Robert B. Hutchings 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 UT, 84 of 138 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.9% of this state's fallen. That is 6.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Utah Highway Patrol, 7 of 16 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 43.8% of this agency's fallen.

Utah Highway Patrol

of 16 officers

43.8% Felonious

UT — Statewide

of 138 officers

60.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious