Martin R. Kempton

Graham County Sheriff's Office — Safford, AZ

Felonious

End of Watch February 9, 1918

Age 39

The Vigil Panel 33 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Undersheriff Martin Kempton, Sheriff Robert McBride, and Deputy Sheriff Kane Wooton were shot and killed as they approached a cabin where they intended to arrest two brothers and another man for draft evasion. During the exchange of gunfire, one suspect was also killed at the scene. A month later three suspects were captured by a U.S. Cavalry Patrol near Hachita, New Mexico. Three of the suspects, two of them brothers, were convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. Two were paroled in 1960 and pardoned in 1969; the third suspect died in prison on January 24, 1957, at the age of 86. At that time he was Arizona's oldest prisoner. A fourth suspect was killed at the scene.

Survivors

Undersheriff Kempton was survived by his wife and seven children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AZ-46AA713C
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Martin. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Undersheriff Kempton served with the Graham County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Safford community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Undersheriff Kempton.

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

Agency

Department Graham County Sheriff's Office

Location Safford, AZ

Platform Identity gcso.graham.az.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 9, 1918

Age 39

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle

Offender Sentenced to life

Undersheriff Martin R. Kempton 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 Graham County Sheriff's Office, 5 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Graham County Sheriff's Office

of 5 officers

100% Felonious

AZ — Statewide

204

of 330 officers

61.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious