Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Constable Elbert Hanks was shot and killed by a 14-year-old boy who had escaped from the Navarro County prison farm.
The suspect observed Deputy Constable Hanks approaching along railroad tracks and fled into a nearby restaurant. The restaurant owner told the boy to flee through the back door. As the boy attempted to do so, he grabbed the owner's pistol off the counter. When he discovered the back door locked, he hid behind a door in the cleaning room.
When Deputy Constable Hanks entered the darkened room, he lit a match. The suspect fired a shot at the constable, causing him to drop the match. The suspect then fired a second shot striking him in the chest. The boy fled the scene but was later apprehended and sentenced to life in prison. On June 21, 1927, the Texas governor pardoned the boy, and he was released.
Deputy Constable Hanks had served in law enforcement for at least two years. He had served with the Corsicana Police Department before becoming a deputy constable.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, daughter, and three sons.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-TX-EF64E2D3- Stewardship
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- 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.
Deputy Constable Hanks gave the Navarro County Constable's Office 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Corsicana community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Constable Hanks.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Constable Elbert Norton Hanks 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. Elbert Norton Hanks's cause is highlighted.
How Elbert Norton Hanks Compares
Offender Outcome
Pardoned in 1927
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Elbert Norton Hanks is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Elbert Norton Hanks was killed by handgun.