Joseph Theophelus "Joe" Hutson

Borger Police Department — Borger, TX

Accident

End of Watch February 10, 1929

Age 40

The Vigil Panel 56 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 3

Incident

Chief of Police Joe T. Hutson was fatally wounded when a fellow officer, Tom Hughes, accidentally discharged his pistol. Officer Hughes was placing his pistol into his scabbard when he accidentally shoved it into the loops, causing the pistol to fall and strike the floor as the chief entered the room. The bullet entered Hughes’ right ankle, broke his bone, and then ricocheted striking Chief Hutson in the thigh. Chief Hutson bled to death. Chief Hutson was a pioneer peace officer in the community. He was survived by his wife, five children, parents, 8 brothers and a sister. His brother, Lee, was also a member of the force. He was buried in the Borger Cemetery in Hutchinson County.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, five children, parents, 8 brothers and a sister.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-C8F2B00C
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.
Chief of Police Hutson served with the Borger Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Borger community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Hutson.

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

Agency

Department Borger Police Department

Location Borger, TX

Platform Identity bpd.hutchinson.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 10, 1929

Age 40

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Chief of Police Joseph Theophelus "Joe" Hutson is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In TX, 653 of 2,421 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 27% of this state's fallen. That is 4 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.

At Borger Police Department, 1 of 4 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 25% of this agency's fallen.

Borger Police Department

of 4 officers

25% Accident

TX — Statewide

653

of 2,421 officers

27% Accident

Nationwide

10,088

of 32,508 officers

31% Accident