Edward Otto Hartwick

Pawnee County Sheriff's Office — Pawnee, OK

Felonious

End of Watch December 7, 1930

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

The Vigil Panel 61 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 5

Incident

Deputy Hartwick was shot and killed when he and two other deputies went to a local farm to arrest a man for shooting two young boys, killing one. As they approached the house the man opened fire on them, striking Deputy Hartwick in the head. The suspect surrendered to a posse in Ralston, Oklahoma, but then opened fire on the posse members and severely wounded one of them, before being subdued.

The suspect, a 65 year old farmer, said he shot the boys because they were bothering him. The boys were returning a chain they had borrowed without his permission to pull their horse free from a nearby ditch he was stuck in.

The suspect pleaded self defense in all four shootings. A jury reduced his charges to manslaughter and he was given a four year sentence. After serving nine months he was granted a leave of absence. He was pardoned by Governor William H. Murray in September of 1934. On September 20, 1937, he shot and killed a neighbor near Pawnee following an argument. Five weeks later he was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life.

Deputy Hartwick had been with the agency for five years and was survived by his wife and seven children.

Survivors

Deputy Hartwick had been with the agency for five years and was survived by his wife and seven children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OK-77F634D4
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.
Deputy Sheriff Hartwick gave the Pawnee County Sheriff's Office 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Pawnee community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Hartwick.

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

Agency

Department Pawnee County Sheriff's Office

Location Pawnee, OK

Platform Identity pcso.pawnee.ok.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 7, 1930

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Pardoned in 1934

Deputy Sheriff Edward Otto Hartwick 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 OK, 403 of 582 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.2% of this state's fallen. That is 15 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Pawnee County Sheriff's Office, 4 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.

Pawnee County Sheriff's Office

of 6 officers

66.7% Felonious

OK — Statewide

403

of 582 officers

69.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious