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Opal J. Hughes
Agency patch
Chief of Police

Opal J. Hughes

Alexandria Police Department — Alexandria, IN
Felonious
United States flag Indiana flag
End of Watch February 17, 1927
Age 32
Tour of Duty 1 yrs
The Vigil Panel 52 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 3

Incident

Chief Opal Hughes was shot and killed while attempting to serve a warrant as a result of a domestic incident. The suspect opened fire after the officers discovered a still inside the home. The following day, the offender responsible for Chief Hughes' murder was killed in town. Chief Hughes had served with the Alexandria Police Department for one year.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-IN-B07109DE
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

You barely got started.
Chief of Police Hughes gave the Alexandria Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Alexandria community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Hughes.

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

Agency

Department Alexandria Police Department
Location Alexandria, IN
Platform Identity alexpd.madison.in.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 17, 1927
Tour of Duty 1 yrs
Age 32
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Killed

Chief of Police Opal J. Hughes 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 IN, 311 of 503 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 Alexandria Police Department, 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Alexandria Police Department
4
of 4 officers
100% Felonious
IN — Statewide
311
of 503 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. Opal J. Hughes'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 Opal J. Hughes Compares

Age at End of Watch
32
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
1
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Opal J. Hughes is highlighted in Feb.

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. Opal J. Hughes was killed by gun; unknown type.

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