Roll of Honor
Incident
Constable William Hardmount was shot and killed in a Monterey dance hall known as the California Exchange.
He was attempting to break up a fight between a group of several men from America, Mexico, and Ireland.
The suspects were fighting over rum and a member of the gang shot and killed Constable Hardmount when he attempted to stop the fight. Despite being wounded, he was able to return fire and wounded one of the men.
The gang escaped, but the wounded member was arrested and hung the following day in the center of town.
Tiburcio Vasquez, a 19-year-old member of the gang soon became the gang's leader and went on to become one of California's most notorious outlaws robbing and killing with the gang he led for the next 20 years. On November 6th, 1873, his gang killed Constable William Stewart Mettler in Kern County. The man was apprehended in Los Angeles on May 14th, 1874, and hanged on March 19th, 1875.
The place where he was captured is modern-day West Hollywood near the sets where many western movies were filmed, including movies about him. He was thought to be the source of the bandit-hero "Zorro."
Tiburcio Vasquez was the main suspect in the murder of both constables and many others. After his capture, he stated that he never killed either officer or anyone else. He said only members of his gang, who were killed or disappeared over the years, were responsible for all the murders.
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BO-US-CA-F2FEBCEB- Stewardship
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- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
172 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Constable Hardmount served with the Monterey County Constable's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Monterey community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Constable William H. Hardmount 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 CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William H. Hardmount's cause is highlighted.
How William H. Hardmount Compares
Offender Outcome
Several escaped; One hanged
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William H. Hardmount is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William H. Hardmount was killed by shotgun.