Roll of Honor
Incident
Marshal Hutcheson was shot and killed while attempting to speak with the owner of a dance hall near the city limits. Marshal Hutcheson had responded to the dance hall for the second time that night and asked the owner to step outside to talk. The owner refused and shot Marshal Hutcheson in the left eye as the marshal stood in the doorway. Marshal Hutcheson succumbed to his wound several hours later. The suspect was ran down by a posse and arrested the following day. The suspect, 51, was ultimately sentenced to life in prison after two death sentences were appealed and overturned. He died in prison on February 2, 1971.
Survivors
Marshal Hutcheson had been with the agency for two years and was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-2DF5A549- 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.
City Marshal Hutcheson gave the Merkel Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Merkel community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, City Marshal Hutcheson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
City Marshal Chester C. Hutcheson 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 TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Chester C. Hutcheson's cause is highlighted.
How Chester C. Hutcheson Compares
Offender Outcome
Died in prison
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Chester C. Hutcheson is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Chester C. Hutcheson was killed by handgun; .45 caliber.