Roll of Honor
John Arlington Hargis
Incident
Deputy Sheriff John Hargis was shot and killed as he and two other deputies investigated reports of a man selling illegal liquor on Shawnee Street. The subject opened fire on the deputies, striking Deputy Hargis. The suspect was arrested the following day by the Nacogdoches police chief.
The suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to 99 years. He was pardoned July 15, 1939.
Deputy Hargis was a military veteran and had served with the Nacogdoches County Sheriff's Office for 25 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and five children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-D3B5A899- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Hargis gave the Nacogdoches County Sheriff's Office 25 years.
Thank you for your service to the Nacogdoches 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
John Arlington Hargis served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Deputy Sheriff John Arlington Hargis 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 Nacogdoches County Sheriff's Dept, 5 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 83.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Arlington Hargis's cause is highlighted.
How John Arlington Hargis Compares
Offender Outcome
Pardoned in 1939
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Arlington Hargis is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Arlington Hargis was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Nacogdoches County Sheriff's Dept are honored on badge.nw.
