Robert Russell Hardesty
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Special Agent

Robert Russell Hardesty

Accident
End of Watch June 2, 2005
Age 40
Tour of Duty 16 yrs
The Vigil Panel 153 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Location: Virginia Incident Date: Wednesday, May 25, 2005

Special Agent Robert Hardesty succumbed to injuries suffered eight days earlier during a training exercise at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. Agent Hardesty fell 20 feet off an airplane wing during an FBI SWAT team training exercise while he was practicing aircraft entry techniques. He was transported to Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, Virginia, where he remained until he died from complications as a result of being paralyzed in the fall.

Agent Hardesty had served with the Federal Bureau of Investigation for three years and was assigned to a resident agency in Bloomington, Illinois. He had previously served with the Indiana State Excise Police for six years and the Porter County, Indiana, Sheriff's Department for seven years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two daughters, and two sisters.

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.
Special Agent Hardesty gave the United States Department of Justice 16 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Hardesty.

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

Agency

Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usdjfbifed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 2, 2005
Tour of Duty 16 yrs
Age 40
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident
Cause Detail Fall

The Sacrifice · Accident

Robert is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 2005, 71 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 44th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Robert was 40. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Robert had served 16 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

June holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation has 89 officers remembered here, Robert among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Special Agent Robert Russell Hardesty

United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation · End of Watch June 2, 2005

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 62-E

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