Roll of Honor
Incident
Constable James Hawkins was shot and killed while escorting a prisoner to the courthouse.
The man had just been arrested for resisting arrest. As they walked to the courthouse the man suddenly pulled out a gun and shot Constable Hawkins in the chest.
The suspect was sentenced to life for Constable Hawkins' murder but was released after serving only three years.
Constable Hawkins had been employed with the Yavapai County Constable's Office for three months.
Correction: 165 years since James was born and 135 years since he was shot and killed in the line of duty.
Matthew Relative January 21st, 2026
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BO-US-AZ-F4ABE6F3- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
135 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Constable Hawkins served with the Yavapai County Constable's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Prescott community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Constable James Gabriel Hawkins 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Gabriel Hawkins's cause is highlighted.
How James Gabriel Hawkins Compares
Offender Outcome
Released after three years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Gabriel Hawkins is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Gabriel Hawkins was killed by handgun.