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Steven K. Gardner
Incident
Trooper Steven Gardner was shot and killed by a suspect he had arrested earlier in the night. The suspect bonded out of jail, changed cars, and began searching for Trooper Gardner. After several hours, the suspect located Trooper Gardner parked on the side of Highway 51 near Hazelhurst doing paperwork. At 10:45 p.m., The suspect then intentionally struck Trooper Gardner's patrol car. Trooper Gardner notified dispatch he had been involved in an accident and was checking on the other driver. As he approached the car, he was shot in the chest. The round struck him in between the panels of his vest. As he fell to the ground, he was able to return fire and kill the suspect. The ensuing investigation determined that the suspect had searched for Trooper Gardner for most of the night and that Trooper Gardner did not immediately recognize him because he had switched cars. Trooper Gardner had served with the Mississippi Department of Public Safety - Mississippi Highway Patrol for four months. He was survived by his parents. A portion of United States Highway 51 South of Hazlehurst has been dedicated to Trooper Gardner.
Survivors
He was survived by his parents.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Trooper Gardner served with the Mississippi Department of Public Safety.
Thank you for your service to the people of Mississippi. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Gardner.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Mississippi Department of Public Safety - Mississippi Highway Patrol has lost 28 officers; 10 of them killed feloniously.
Steven is one of 243 officers killed feloniously in MS, 69.4% of the 350 remembered there.
Steven is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Steven is one of 17,622 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,102 remembered here.
34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1984, 1 officer at Mississippi Department of Public Safety - Mississippi Highway Patrol was killed feloniously, the 3rd heaviest of 8 years on record. The heaviest was 1947, with 2.
In 1984, 4 officers in MS were killed feloniously, the 7th heaviest of 114 years on record. The heaviest was 1981, with 6.
In 1984, 91 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 62nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1984, 104 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 59th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Steven was 30. Of the 10 killed feloniously at Mississippi Department of Public Safety - Mississippi Highway Patrol whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 37; the middle age was 34. Steven had served 0.3 years; the middle length of service was 2.5 years.
Steven was 30. Of the 222 killed feloniously in MS whose age is recorded, half were between 33 and 53; the middle age was 41. Steven had served 0.3 years; the middle length of service was 6.5 years.
Steven was 30. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Steven had served 0.3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Steven was 30. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Steven had served 0.3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
March holds 10% of these deaths at Mississippi Department of Public Safety - Mississippi Highway Patrol; February holds the most, 30%. Fridays: 20%.
March holds 7.8% of these deaths in MS; December holds the most, 12.3%. Fridays: 14%.
March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.
March holds 7.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Fridays: 14.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 35.7% of all 28 deaths at Mississippi Department of Public Safety - Mississippi Highway Patrol, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 40% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 69.4% of all 350 deaths in MS, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 18.9% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 20.4% of these deaths.
His people
Mississippi Department of Public Safety - Mississippi Highway Patrol has 28 officers remembered here, Steven among them.
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Adrian Cole
Sep 8, 1940
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Loma Laine Dyess
Oct 27, 1942
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James Mortimer Barry
Feb 1, 1947
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Cyril J. Reichert
Feb 5, 1947
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James H. Tingle
Sep 7, 1950
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Herbert E. Nixon
Apr 22, 1951
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Carl M. Thach
Jan 15, 1954
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Walter W. Smith
Sep 22, 1955
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Hurfu L. Duckworth
Aug 19, 1959
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Daniel E. Smith
Nov 7, 1959
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Julian Davis
Nov 27, 1963
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Marcus Lamastus
Jul 17, 1965
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Joseph A. Pol
Nov 27, 1965
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Tommy E. Kendall
May 16, 1966
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William Kenny
Dec 21, 1967
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William O. Swindoll
Oct 5, 1968
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Joe Clay
May 27, 1974
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Billy M. Langham
Dec 31, 1981
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George Danny Nash, Jr.
Feb 4, 1983
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Steven K. Gardner
Mar 23, 1984
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James Kenneth Bounds
Oct 21, 1984
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David Bruce Ladner
Apr 12, 1987
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Ralph R. Newell
Oct 28, 1988
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Tommie Earl Owens
Jul 28, 1989
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Bobby L. Wells, Jr.
Jun 27, 1995
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Paul Denham, III
Dec 27, 1999
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Steve Loy Hood
May 29, 2009
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John Martin Harris
May 28, 2021
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 18-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
27 officers from Mississippi Department of Public Safety - Mississippi Highway Patrol are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
