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Police Officer

James Ray Hinkley

Mason Police Department — Mason, MI

Felonious

End of Watch August 6, 1938

Age 52

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

The Vigil Panel 75 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Officer James Hinkley was shot and killed at 2 am at 521 South Jefferson Street in Mason. Officer Hinkley was escorting a woman home from work at a restaurant who was fearful of her estranged husband's threats. The estranged husband attacked the two, and Officer Hinkley was shot in the stomach with a 12-gauge shotgun. Although mortally wounded, Officer Hinkley returned fire and killed the suspect. Officer Hinkley had served with the Mason Police Department for two years and had previously served with the Michigan State Constabulary during WWI.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, daughter, two brothers, and two sisters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MI-909E746F
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Hinkley gave the Mason Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Mason community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Hinkley.

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

Agency

Department Mason Police Department

Location Mason, MI

Platform Identity mpd.ingham.mi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 6, 1938

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Age 52

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun; 12 gauge

Offender Shot and killed

Police Officer James Ray Hinkley 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 MI, 426 of 718 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.3% of this state's fallen. That is 5.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Mason Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

MI — Statewide

426

of 718 officers

59.3% 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. James Ray Hinkley'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 James Ray Hinkley Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

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. James Ray Hinkley is highlighted in Aug.

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. James Ray Hinkley was killed by shotgun; 12 gauge.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518