Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Patrick Hardesty was shot and killed while investigating a hit-and-run traffic accident at the intersection of Fort Lowell Road and Park Avenue.
Shortly after arriving at the scene, Officer Hardesty located a suspect, and a struggle ensued in which Officer Hardesty was shot five times and fatally wounded. Officer Hardesty was taken by ambulance to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Responding officers apprehended the suspect after a short foot pursuit. The suspect, who had a criminal record, was found guilty of first-degree murder on February 25th, 2005, and was sentenced to death on March 10th, 2005. In December 2023, he was taken off death row and will have a new resentencing hearing.
Officer Hardesty was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and served with the Tucson Police Department as a reserve officer for 11 years and as a full-time officer for 19 months. He is survived by his wife, three children, parents, two sisters, and a brother. His grandfather and brother had also served as law enforcement officers.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, three children, parents, two sisters, and a brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AZ-0D5DB393- 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.
Officer Hardesty gave the Tucson Police Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Tucson community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Patrick Kent Hardesty served in the Marine Corps (1991â2001) before joining law enforcement.
Officer Patrick Kent Hardesty 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 AZ, 204 of 330 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 7.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Tucson Police Department, 6 of 11 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 54.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Patrick Kent Hardesty's cause is highlighted.
How Patrick Kent Hardesty Compares
Offender Outcome
Taken off death row
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Patrick Kent Hardesty is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Patrick Kent Hardesty was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
10 officers from Tucson Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
