Ernest Daniel "Hank" Hamilton

Presidio County Sheriff's Department — Marfa, TX

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch April 27, 1973

Age 65

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

The Vigil Panel 111 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 3

Incident

Sheriff Hank Hamilton was shot and killed while he and a deputy questioned a man near Marfa in a parked car at the request of U.S. Border Patrol agents in a spotter plane at 4 pm. During the questioning, the suspect suddenly opened fire, shooting Sheriff Hamilton five times and the deputy once. The suspect fled but was arrested by Border Patrol agents a short distance away. The man, 51, was charged with capital murder. No one could understand why the man started shooting. The Border Patrol agents just wanted to make sure he was not up to something that was illegal. No motive was determined. On Jun 13, 1973, the suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. Sheriff Hamilton was a United States Army WWII veteran and had served as the Sheriff of Presidio County Sheriff's Department for only three months and had previously served with the El Paso Police Department for six years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-4C060129
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.
Sheriff Hamilton gave the Presidio County Sheriff's Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Marfa community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Presidio County Sheriff's Department

Location Marfa, TX

Platform Identity pcso.presidio.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 27, 1973

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

Age 65

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; Pistol

Offender Sentenced to life

Military Service

Ernest Daniel "Hank" Hamilton served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Sheriff Ernest Daniel "Hank" Hamilton 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%.

At Presidio County Sheriff's Department, 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Presidio County Sheriff's Department

of 4 officers

100% Felonious

TX — Statewide

1,463

of 2,421 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious