Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Joseph Hackney succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained one week earlier as he and another officer walked a prisoner to jail after arresting him for disorderly conduct on Main Street.
As they walked the man to jail another man approached them and began yelling at the officers, then grabbed the other officer's arm. As Officer Hackney and the other officer pushed the man away a revolver fell from the man's coat and discharged. The round struck Officer Hackney in the leg and the bullet traveled into his groin.
He was taken to a nearby doctor's office and then to his home, where he remained until passing away one week later.
The subject who interfered in the arrest and whose revolver discharged was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 10-1/2 years in prison.
Officer Hackney had served with the Uniontown Police Department for six months.
Officer Hackney's Great-Grandson, Patrolman Robert C. Jay, died in the line of duty on November 26th, 1975, while serving with the Luzerne Township Police Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, three young children, and several brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-E1CD7F98- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
142 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Police Officer Hackney served with the Uniontown Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Uniontown community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Joseph T. Hackney is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,587 officers honored here.
In PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 6.6 percentage points below the national rate of 53.9%.
At Uniontown Police Department, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph T. Hackney's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph T. Hackney Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph T. Hackney is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph T. Hackney was killed by handgun; revolver.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Uniontown Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
