Robert Mendum Tarr
Agency patch
Sheriff

Robert Mendum Tarr

Felonious Veteran
End of Watch October 21, 1963
Age 52
Tour of Duty 33 yrs
The Vigil Panel 98 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sheriff Robert Tarr was shot and killed at an agricultural inspection station near Kingman, Arizona, at 3:00 p.m. Two men who had just been released from California and Arizona prisons had stolen a car in Long Beach, CA, and were stopped at the agricultural inspection station because they didn't have the paperwork for the car. The inspector called the sheriff, and when he responded, he asked one of the men to open the trunk. After doing so, the ex-convict drew a weapon and shot Sheriff Tarr as he walked toward him. Sheriff Tarr then drew his weapon and fired four times, hitting the suspect twice. Sheriff Tarr was a U.S. Army veteran of WWII and served in law enforcement for 33 years. He had served with the Mohave County Sheriff's Office, Kingman Police Department, and the San Bernardino County, California, Sheriff's Office.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, nine children, mother, and six siblings.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-AZ-A991AF8B
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.
Sheriff Tarr gave the Mohave County Sheriff's Office 33 years.
Thank you for your service to the Kingman community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Location Kingman, AZ
Platform Identity mcso.mohave.az.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 21, 1963
Tour of Duty 33 yrs
Age 52
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun; .38 caliber
Offender Shot and killed

Military Service

Robert Mendum Tarr served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Sheriff Robert Mendum Tarr 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 Mohave County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 8 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 25% of this agency's fallen.

Mohave County Sheriff's Office
2
of 8 officers
25% Felonious
AZ — Statewide
204
of 330 officers
61.8% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert Mendum Tarr's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Robert Mendum Tarr Compares

Age at End of Watch
52
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
33
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert Mendum Tarr is highlighted in Oct.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert Mendum Tarr was killed by handgun; .38 caliber.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location