Luther T. Hardison

Coral Gables Police Dept. — Coral Gables, FL

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch February 17, 1951

Age 55

Tour of Duty 26 yrs

The Vigil Panel 87 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 8

Incident

Constable Luther Hardison was shot and killed with his own weapon while extraditing a prisoner from Los Angeles, California, back to Florida. As they drove through Alabama and neared Florida on Highway 90, the un-handcuffed suspect gained control of Constable Hardison's weapon and shot and killed him. A few hours later, Constable Hardison's bloodstained car was found by police in New Orleans. The suspect was apprehended in New York City seven days later when he tried to pawn the constable's .38 caliber pistol for $15. The suspect was returned to Alabama and charged with Constable Hardison's murder. The suspect was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. His sentence was later commuted to life. He was paroled in January of 1969. In June of 1970 he was returned to prison for violating his parole. Constable Hardison was a U.S. Navy WWI veteran who was the elected constable for three years and served in law enforcement for 26 years. The position of elected Constable was abolished from Florida in 1973. He was survived by his wife, two sons, and two daughters. His wife took over his job as constable. A portion of SW 84 Avenue was dedicated the Officer Luther T. Hardison Avenue.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two sons, and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-FL-BD1E506E
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.
Constable Hardison gave the Coral Gables Police Department 26 years.
Thank you for your service to the Coral Gables 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

Department Coral Gables Police Dept.

Location Coral Gables, FL

Platform Identity corapd.miamidade.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 17, 1951

Tour of Duty 26 yrs

Age 55

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Paroled in 1969

Military Service

Luther T. Hardison served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Constable Luther T. Hardison 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 FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 0.7 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Coral Gables Police Dept., 7 of 9 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 77.8% of this agency's fallen.

Coral Gables Police Dept.

of 9 officers

77.8% Felonious

FL — Statewide

539

of 1,008 officers

53.5% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious