It is once again Police Officer Memorial Week. In 1962, President Kennedy proclaimed May 15, as National Peace Officers Memorial Day. National Police Week was established by a joint resolution of Congress in 1962. This week, and the entire month of May, is dedicated to recognizing law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
This week’s Grave of the Week is one of those heroes. Kent Haws was a Tulare County Sheriff’s Deputy that was killed, on duty, on December 17, 2007.
Haws was traveling on Road 146 near Ave. 344 about 1:25 p.m. on the 17th when he saw a vehicle parked along the road. He stopped to do a welfare check on the vehicle. While speaking with the occupants, he saw a man walking through the orchard. After determining the occupants of the vehicle were well, and unrelated to the man in the orchard, he helped the vehicle on its way and began to check on the man in the orchard. After contacting the man, Haws began walking the man toward his patrol vehicle. At that point, the man pulled a gun and shot Haws multiple times.
Numerous people were driving by at the time and witnessed the shooting. They immediately called 911. A nurse stopped her car and began to administer first aid. A CHP sergeant was less than 2 miles away and responded and assisted rendering aid. Another passerby was a volunteer firefighter; he also helped at the scene.
Haws was transported to Kaweah Delta by ambulance with a CHP escort. Despite the efforts of those at the scene, and the doctors at Kaweah Delta, Haws passed that day.
Haws was 38 when he died and left behind a wife and three children. He graduated from the COS Police Academy in 1998. He was a member of the Sheriff’s SWAT team and the Search and Rescue Team.
Almost 2,000 people attended the service for Haws. They shared stories and celebrated a man who was full of duty, respect, and love. The man who killed Haws was arrested, convicted, and sentenced to life in prison.
Haws’ memory is still alive and well, not only locally, but nationally. His page on the Officer Down Memorial site has current posts from his friends. On February 3, 2025, one such friend wrote, “Thinking of you and missing you and needed to thank you for giving me your new sneakers when mine chewed up my feet on those long Army runs and you still had your old sneakers.” There are 14 pages of memories just like this for Detective Haws. https://www.odmp.org/…/19103-detective-kent-haws/325
There is also a Facebook group, Detective Kent M. Haws…Our Hero!, dedicated to Haws. The group shares stories, pictures, and memories of this great man.
State Hwy 65 from 198 south to the Tulare-Lindsay Hwy is designated as the Detective Kent Haws Memorial Highway.
Please share your memories of Kent Haws and thank him for his sacrifice to keep us all safe. Please thank his family too for sharing him with us for a short time.
This week also marks the one-year anniversary of Grave of the Week. On May 14, 2024, in honor of Peace Officer’s Memorial Week, I highlighted the first individual for Grave of the Week, Thomas Schroth, who was killed in the line of duty on October 22, 1975. It has been an honor and a privilege to learn and write about the amazing people who have been a part of the community. There were 49 people following the Exeter Public Cemetery District page last May, now there are 748. I am so grateful for the public’s appreciation for Grave of the Week and I hope that I continue to do justice to the people that I write about. I hope that the family and friends of those featured know that I write with the upmost respect for their loved ones.
Message if you know anyone who should be featured on Grave of the Week. Please include any information about the person’s life and where the grave is located.
Please continue to like, share, and follow the Exeter Public Cemetery District and thank you to Exeter Chamber of Commerce, Exeter Kiwanis, Kiwanis Club Of Farmersville, Kiwanis of Woodlake, The Sun-Gazette Newspaper, Tulare County Sheriff’s Office for sharing