Steve was born April 18, 1952 to the late George and Mary Hartman. He attended Boone County High School where he participated in wrestling and graduated in 1970.
Steve joined the Kentucky State Police as a Trooper during 1973. During April 1978 he crashed his patrol car into a vehicle ending the pursuit of a man who abducted, raped, and killed a 12-year-old girl and twice shot Trooper Gary Carey. Trooper Hartman incurred serious chest and back injuries in the process. Both troopers survived and Trooper Hartman was awarded Purple Heart, Governor’s Medal of Valor, and Guthrie Crowe Award. He was injured again when a tractor trailer that he was trying to pull over ran into his Mustang speed car. Trooper Hartman retired in 2003.
He then joined the Boone County Sheriff’s Office as a Deputy at the Justice Center. Deputy Hartman retired on July 31, 2019 with 46¼ years of service to his state and county.
He was also active with the Kentucky State Police Professional Association and Kentucky State Police Retirement Association.
Trooper Hartman died on September 26, 2022 at the age of 70.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Julie Hartman-Jones. Trooper Hartman is survived by his daughters, Jacque (Tim) Leiprecht and Samantha (Alex Lewis) Hartman; grandchildren, Madison, Timmy, Jimmy, and Steven; and sister, Michelle (Guy) Tieke.
Visitation and a funeral service were held September 30, 2022 at Linnemann Funeral Homes in Burlington. Memorials can be made the American Diabetes Association.
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