Roll of Honor
Nathaniel Jefferson Hutson
Incident
Chief Hutson was shot and killed when he and another officer went to the home of a suspect who had escaped from custody while being taken to the Missouri Reformatory to serve a term for auto theft. The other officer was able to return fire and kill the suspect. Chief Hutson had served 15 years in law enforcement. He served one term as the Sheriff of Cape Girardeau. He returned to the Cape Girardeau Police Department in 1921 because the sheriff at that time could not succeed himself in office. He had been Police Chief for seven months prior to his death.
Survivors
Chief Hutson was survived by his wife and six children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-5F8C0E61- 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.
Chief of Police Hutson gave the Cape Girardeau Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cape Girardeau community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Hutson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police Nathaniel Jefferson Hutson 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 MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 9.3 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Cape Girardeau Police Dept., 5 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Nathaniel Jefferson Hutson's cause is highlighted.
How Nathaniel Jefferson Hutson Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Nathaniel Jefferson Hutson is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Nathaniel Jefferson Hutson was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Cape Girardeau Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
