Roll of Honor
Incident
Posse Member James Hooker was shot and killed as he rode with a posse attempting to arrest a gang of outlaws.
Eight of the outlaws had been arrested and were being held in Kiowa as the rest of the posse attempted to locate the two ringleaders, who were wanted in Arapahoe County. When the posse located the men Posse Member Hooker and another posse member were able to get behind them and ordered them to drop their weapons.
A shootout ensued in which Posse Member Hooker was shot in the back as he attempted to seek cover.
The two outlaws escaped but were captured in Colorado Springs on April 17th, 1874, and taken to the Arapahoe County Jail. They escaped from the jail on July 28th, 1875. On August 8th, 1875, one of them was shot and killed by another posse and the second was wounded. The wounded man turned himself in two days later.
Posse Member Hooker was survived by his son, who served as a sheriff's deputy with the Elbert County Sheriff's Office.
Survivors
Posse Member Hooker was survived by his son, who served as a sheriff's deputy with the Elbert County Sheriff's Office.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-CO-A2D5FC7D- 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
151 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Posse Member Hooker served with the Elbert County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Kiowa community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Posse Member James Hooker 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 CO, 235 of 360 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 65.3% of this state's fallen. That is 11.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Elbert County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Hooker's cause is highlighted.
How James Hooker Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Hooker is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Hooker was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Elbert County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
