Deputy Howard Edward Dutton

Baldwin County Sheriff's Office, Alabama

 

End of Watch: Friday, October 2, 1987

Age: 59

Tour of Duty: 4 years

Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: October 2, 1987
Weapon Used: Shotgun
Suspect Info: Shot several times

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Deputy Howard Dutton was shot and killed officer was shot and killed while responding to assist Robertsdale Police officers on a suicide call. 
Deputy Dutton recognized the man's voice shouting from the end of a alley, that he had a shotgun and planned to kill himself. Deputy Dutton volunteered to go forward and try to convince the man to surrender. The suspect was drunk and unfortunately did not recognize the uniformed officer as a person he knew as a friend. He raised his shotgun and fired, killing Deputy Dutton.
Officers returned fire, striking the subject several times, only wounding him. In 1997, the suspect, J.C.Hadley, was convicted of capital murder. Hadley later died in prison from lung cancer

 

Deputy Dutton had served in law enforcement for over 4 years. He further served as a Master Sergeant in the United States Army Reserve. He was survived by his wife, daughter and two sisters.

 

May God Bless You and May You Rest in Peace.

A HERO for Sure.

You Served Well