Loren Whitehat, Sr.

Navajo Division of Public Safety — Window Rock, AZ

Felonious

End of Watch May 10, 1979

Age 30

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

The Vigil Panel 121 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 16

Incident

Sergeant Loren Whitehat was shot and killed as he assisted his twin brother, also a Navajo Division of Public Safety officer, arrest a DUI suspect. The suspect had fled into a nearby rocky area off of Highway 160. When Sergeant Whitehat caught the subject, the man was able to gain control of his service revolver. The man opened fire, killing Sergeant Whitehat. The subject was convicted in connection with Sergeant Whitehat's murder and sentenced to six years in prison. Sergeant Whitehat was assigned to the Tuba City District. He had served with the Navajo Division of Public Safety for one year and had previously served four years as a tribal ranger for the Navajo Resource Enforcement Division.

Survivors

He was survived by wife, three children, and twin brother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NN-TR-A832EBD5
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.
Sergeant Whitehat gave the Navajo Division of Public Safety 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Window Rock community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Whitehat.

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

Agency

Department Navajo Division of Public Safety

Location Window Rock, AZ

Platform Identity ndpsdps.nn.tribal.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 10, 1979

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

Age 30

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Sentenced to 6 years

Sergeant Loren Whitehat, Sr. 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 AZ, 204 of 330 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 Navajo Division of Public Safety, 9 of 17 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 52.9% of this agency's fallen.

Navajo Division of Public Safety

of 17 officers

52.9% Felonious

AZ — Statewide

204

of 330 officers

61.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious