John Thomas Hobbs

Phoenix Police Dept. — Phoenix, AZ

Felonious

End of Watch March 3, 2014

Age 43

Tour of Duty 21 yrs

The Vigil Panel 163 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 46

Incident

Detective John Hobbs was shot and killed as he and other members of the Fugitive Apprehension Team attempted to serve a felony warrant on a man who had recently been released from prison and was wanted in connection to a murder.

The subject fled in a vehicle and was pursued by the detectives until crashing at the intersection of 43rd Avenue and Bethany Home Road. The subject then fled on foot. He opened fire on the detectives as they pursued him, striking Detective Hobbs and a second detective. Despite being mortally wounded, Detective Hobbs was able to return fire and fatally shot the subject.

Both wounded detectives were transported to St. Joseph's Hospital in critical condition. Detective Hobbs succumbed to his wounds at the hospital.

Detective Hobbs had served with the Phoenix Police Department for 21 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AZ-1357DE3C
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

21 years. You could have gone home.
Detective Hobbs gave the Phoenix Police Department 21 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Phoenix community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Hobbs.

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

Agency

Department Phoenix Police Dept.

Location Phoenix, AZ

Platform Identity phoepd.maricopa.az.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 3, 2014

Tour of Duty 21 yrs

Age 43

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Offender Shot and killed

Detective John Thomas Hobbs 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 Phoenix Police Dept., 28 of 47 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.6% of this agency's fallen.

Phoenix Police Dept.

of 47 officers

59.6% Felonious

AZ — Statewide

204

of 330 officers

61.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious