Roll of Honor
Charles Hale
Incident
Location: Kansas Weapon: Gun; Unknown type Offender: Released
Special Officer Charles Hale was shot and killed in Hutchinson, Kansas, while attempting to arrest a man who was stealing coal from a railcar.
The man opened fire on Officer Hale with a pistol, fatally wounding him.
The subject was arrested but later released on a writ of habeas corpus.
Officer Hale was a Union Army veteran of the Civil War.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and one child.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-34683F05- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Special Officer Hale served with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Topeka community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Charles Hale served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Special Officer Charles Hale 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 KS, 237 of 335 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70.7% of this state's fallen. That is 16.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department, 24 of 32 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles Hale's cause is highlighted.
How Charles Hale Compares
Offender Outcome
Released
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles Hale is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charles Hale was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
31 officers from Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
