Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman John Hussey was shot and killed after being abducted by two men during a traffic stop. They handcuffed him to a nearby tree and shot him with his own service revolver three times . The 39-year-old shooter was apprehended on May 9, 1977, by two FBI agents in Denver, Colorado. He had been placed on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted List a few weeks after he murdered Patrolman Hussey. He was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole. He escaped from prison on May 9, 1988 but was later recaptured on September 6, 1988, after being profiled on the television show "America's Most Wanted." A tip led to his capture at a homeless shelter in Austin, Texas. He was found asleep on a cot with a sawed-off shotgun by his side. He died in prison in 1995. The other 30-year-old suspect was apprehended in Conrad, Montana, on June 8, 1978, by Pondera County deputies and FBI agents. He was returned to Arkansas, convicted of murder, and sentenced to life. He died in prison in 2019. Patrolman Hussey had only served with the Springdale Police Department for six weeks.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
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- 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.
Patrolman Hussey served with the Springdale Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Springdale community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Hussey.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman John Tillman Hussey 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 AR, 249 of 372 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.9% of this state's fallen. That is 12.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Tillman Hussey's cause is highlighted.
How John Tillman Hussey Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Tillman Hussey is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Tillman Hussey was killed by officer's handgun.