Officer Cantu was killed when his patrol car was struck by a drunk driver at the intersection of Dunlavy and West Gray Streets at 0220 hours. The car driven by the drunk driver ran a red light at a high rate of speed. The patrol car was struck on the rear, and left quarter panel, causing it to go airborne and land 40 feet away. Officer Cantu was extricated from the patrol car and transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital where he died a short time later.

The drunk driver refused to take a sobriety test and was charged with intoxicated manslaughter. (Blood taken at hospital)

Officer Cantu had served with the Houston Police Department for 19 years. He is survived by his mother, father, brother, and sister.

Officer Blando, assigned to the auto theft division, was working a pro-active auto theft detail on the morning of May 19, 1999. He observed a stolen Lexus parked behind a motel, along Interstate 59.

Officer Blando, wearing plain clothes and driving an unmarked car, went to investigate. Details are sketchy, but we know that Officer Blando was able to handcuff one of the suspect's wrist and the two scuffled. The suspect then shot Officer Blando with a .40 caliber Glock, striking him once in the chest, and fled on foot. Officer Blando returned fire but did not hit the suspect.

Officer Blando made it back to his vehicle and radioed for back-up, giving other units his location and a description of the suspect. Officers arrived on the scene within seconds and arrested the fleeing suspect. Officer Blando died enroute to Ben Taub Hospital.

The suspect, 23 year old Jeffery Damond Williams, has confessed to killing the officer. At the time of his arrest, he had a blackened hole in the front of his shirt, which was most likely from his weapon being fired at the officer from beneath his shirt. The murder weapon was recovered as well.

Officer Blando was a 19 year veteran of the Houston Police Department.

Officer Trinh was working at his parents' convenience store when a man walked in and attempted to rob him. Officer Trinh was shot in the head and died at the scene. Information gathered from an informant led to the suspected killer's arrest on August 14, 1997.

Chuong Duong Tong, who confessed to the killing, told police he had entered the store with a handgun and jumped the counter. He stated that after taking some of Officer Trinh's jewelry, Tong demanded his wallet. Tong saw Officer Trinh's police badge and ID card in the wallet and became scared. Officer Trinh told Tong he was sure to be caught and that he should just leave the store. Tong then shot Officer Trinh once in the head at close range. Tong told investigators that he "had to shoot the officer" because he felt the officer would have shot him when he tried to leave. This was his deffense! Tong was found guilty and is now on death row.

Quoc N. Vo, who drove the getaway car was also arrested in connection with the shooting.

Officer Erickson was working an extra job directing traffic outside a local church on Christmas Eve when she was struck by a passing vehicle. She was transported to the hospital but died during surgery.

Officer Healy was traveling at a high rate of speed when his patrol car struck one of the support columns of an over-pass. He was transported to the hospital and died a short time later.

Officer Gaddis was murdered by one of two suspects he was transporting to jail for aggravated robbery. Both suspects had been searched and handcuffed behind their backs prior to being placed in the back seat of the patrol car. Edgar Tamayo wiggled his hands, still cuffed, to his front, and retreived a .380 hidden on his person. He then shot Officer Gaddis in the back of the head as he was driving down the road. The patrol car crashed into a house and the suspect escaped from the wrecked car, but was arrested a short distance away from the scene.

Officer Roman was in a high speed pursuit attempting to catch a suspect (Jose Lopez) driving a stolen car when his patrol car was struck by another vehicle. Officer Roman was pinned in the wreckage and died from his injuries at the hospital.

Lopez and the passengers of the stolen car were arrested a short time after the Officer Roman's accident.

On April 7, 1991 Sergeant Soboleski was on patrol with a civilian observer, who was serving as a Harris County Grand Juror. He observed two suspicious males that he believed were involved in drug trafficing and he stopped to question them.

Shelton Jones is on death row awaiting execution.

Officer Salvaggio was killed by a hit-and-run driver while conducting a traffic stop on a busy highway.

Byrd fled the scene but was arrested at his home a short time later and charged with Failure to Stop and Render Aid.

Officer Irby had stopped a car for a traffic violation and was speaking with the driver when the passenger, Carl Buntion, stepped out of the other side of the vehicle and shot Officer Irby in the chest with a .357. Buntion then walked around the car to where the injuried officer was lying on the ground and fired two more shots into the officer's head.

It took a jury 34 minutes to convict Buntion of Capital Murder of a Police Officer.

Officer Boswell and his partner, Officer Gainer, stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation. While the officers were speaking with the violator, they were approached by a woman who asked for their assistance with a domestic dispute. Craig Neil Ogan also approached the officers and asked for help. The officers asked the woman and Ogan to wait until they completed their traffic stop then they would attend to them.

Ogan is now on death row awaiting execution.

Officer Garcia was one of two motorcycle officers escorting a funeral procession when he was struck and killed by a motorist not in the procession.

Felipe Martinez was charged with negligent homicide.

Officer Howard was issuing tickets for city ordinance violations in an adult bookstore when Robert Mitchell Jennings murdered him. Jennings shot Officer Howard several times, even as he lied wounded on the floor pleading for his life.

Officer Winzer's patrol car was struck by a vehilce driven by Andres Abelina Alfaro. The officer's patrol car was knocked off a bridge and landed in Buffalo Bayou. The vehicle was completely submerged in the murky water.

Alfano was driving on a suspended license and had no insurance.

Officer Groves was struck and killed by a drunk driver while she was setting out a flare pattern at the scene of an accident on I-10. The driver of the vehicle was arrested at the scene.

On May 2, 1982, Officer Coates was investigating an automobile accident when a passing vehicle struck him. He sustained head and internal injuries and was transported via Life Flight to Hermann Hospital where he underwent surgery. He later passed away from these injuries.

A 52-year-old woman was charged with aggravated assault with a motor vehicle and she pled guilty. She was given a ten-year probated sentence and fined $1000.00.

Officer Harris was shot and killed while on duty. He had been with the agency for five years.

Detective Shirley was serving an arrest warrant when he was shot and killed.

The suspect wrestled with the officer and the officer instructed a witness to go call the police. While the witness was calling the police from a nearby payphone he heard two gunshots. He went back to find both the officer and suspect gone. Detective Shirley's hat, badge, and glasses were lying on the ground. His body was found in a nearby parking lot under a canopy. He had been shot once in the left side of his torso. His 9mm pistol was missing.

Officer DeLeon was struck and killed by a drunk driver while directing traffic at an accident scene on Memorial Drive. The drunk driver drove around a long line of stopped vehicles before striking him. She was arrested and sentenced to ten years for involuntary manslaughter.

Officer Rawlins was killed by a fireball that resulted from an accident in which a gasoline truck struck a gravel truck. Officer Rawlins was conducting a traffic stop when traffic began to backup. The gasoline truck was unable to stop and started to skid. When Officer Rawlins observed the impending accident he was able to push the citizen to safety. When the gasoline truck struck the gravel truck a fireball erupted and Officer Rawlins was trapped in it.

Officer Rawlins had been with the agency for two years and was survived by his two daughters, parents, and two brothers.

Officer Zamarron was struck by a drunk driver and killed while investigating an accident.

Detective Wells was shot and killed while making a traffic stop of a taxi cab. He was in plainclothes driving an unmarked police vehicle when he stopped the cab. The taxi driver shot him and then fled the scene. Several citizens followed the taxi and the suspect was arrested.

Detective Wells had been with the agency for 12 years and was survived by his wife and two children.

Officer Calhoun was shot and killed while he and other officers attempted to apprehend several prison escapees in a home. One of the escapees fired over a stairwell, fatally wounding Officer Calhoun. One of the escapees was shot and killed by the other escapees before they were all killed in a fire during the ensuing standoff.

Officer Calhoun had been with the agency for five years and was survived by his wife and children.

Officer Wright was directing traffic at an accident scene on a busy highway when he was struck by a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed. Officer Wright was knocked more than 40 feet upon impact. He died in the hospital a short time later.

Officer Bamsch was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a suspect during a robbery-in-progress call. He was able to stop one suspect as his partner chased a second suspect. The suspect Officer Bamsch had caught began to struggle and was able to shoot Officer Bamsch.

Officer Bamsch was survived by his parents.

Officer Riley succumbed to injuries received several days earlier when his patrol collided with a tractor trailer. He was responding to an emergency call when the semi pulled out in front of him on Galveston Road in the Park Terrace area.

Terry Lynn Brandt flagged Officer Huerta down and she informed him that her husband, Roland, was at her apartment in violation of a restraining order. Officer Huerta escorted her back to the apartment and he informed Roland that he would have to leave.

Police arrived and surrounded the barricaded suspect. The suspect shot and killed himself instead of surrendering to police.

Officer Guzman and his partner, Officer Bradley Mills, stopped a car for defective taillights. As officers approached the car, they noticed several rounds of ammunition in the car along with a hash pipe.

Officer Guzman died enroute to the hospital.

Officer Spruill was shot and killed after being setup in an ambush while working a uniformed, off duty security detail. He had gone inside to call dispatch when a man came in and told him his car's lights were on. When he went outside to check on the car two suspects approached him and shot him in the back six times. He was transported to Ben Taub Hospital where he was pronounced dead at around midnight. One suspect was apprehended and sentenced to 38 years for the murder and life in prison in connection with the attempted murder of two other offices, but was released after serving only 14 years. The second suspect has never been apprehended.

Officer Spruill had been with the agency for over three years and was survived by his wife and two sons.

On Friday, June 16, 1972, Officer Noel and Officer J.R. Davis was working an extra job at Castillo's Bar (in uniform). As closing time neared, a patron at the bar became rowdy and Officer Noel informed him to calm down or he would have to leave.

The suspect, Paul V. DeLeon, was found guilty of murder and received a 20 year prison sentence.

Officer Beck and his partner, Officer S. J. Rayne, stopped a motorist on a busy highway for a traffic violation. As Officer Beck approached the driver's side of the car, a camper driven by Walter Meyer struck Officer Beck, killing him instantly. Meyer was charged with murder by auto.

Officer Lee was shot and killed when he and his partner interrupted a robbery in progress at a local service station. The two officers were transporting a prisoner at the time. When the suspect inside saw the officers he ran out and fire a round which struck Officer Lee in the head. Officer Lee's partner, Officer Daryl Shirley, was able to shoot and kill the suspect during a foot chase.

Officer Lee was survived by his wife.

Officer Griggs was shot and killed during a robbery while working an off-duty security job at a grocery store. Two suspects entered the store and one of them grabbed Officer Griggs' arm while the other shot him in the back several times. After he fell to the ground one of the suspects took his duty weapon and shot him three more times. One of the suspects was apprehended, convicted, but later paroled. The second suspect was later shot and killed by police officers in Atlanta, Georgia. The paroled suspect later sent to prison again.

Officer Griggs had been with the agency for 14 years and was survived by his wife and five children.

Officer Moody was shot and killed after he and his partner responded to a silent burglar alarm at Hamilton Junior High School. Officer Moody and his partner exchanged shots with a suspect inside of the school and Officer Moody was shot in the chest and fatally wounded.

Officer Moody was survived by his son and daughter.

Officer Gerhart was on patrol when he observed Roderick Michael Isaacks and his wife, Monica, throwing bottles from their car. Officer Gerhart initiated a traffic stop and took Isaacks back to the patrol car and spoke with him, then returned to Isaacks' car to speak with his wife. While talking to the wife, Isaacks ran up and retrieved a .38 caliber pistol from under the front seat. Officer Gerhart pulled his pistol but Isaacks fired first, striking Officer Gerhart in the face before he could shoot. Isaacks drove away with Officer Gerhart's pistol.

Sergeant H. L. Stephens and Officers Jeffcoat, Robbins, and Squyers caught up to Isaacks in a field and he began firing at the officers. The officers returned fire and killed Isaacks.

Officer Kuba was shot and killed during a riot at Texas Southern University. Officer Kuba and other officers were storming a dormitory that students were shooting from. Officer Kuba was shot in the head and died seven hours later. Five suspects were arrested and charged in connection with beginning the riot in which Officer Kuba was killed.

Officer Kuba had only been with the agency for 14 days.

Officer Sander was shot and killed by an unknown suspect after stopping him for a traffic infraction. The suspect shot Officer Sander before he was able to get off his motorcycle. Officer Sander was able to return fire but the suspect escaped. Officer Sander had been with the agency for three years and was survived by his wife and daughter.

Officer Planer was shot and killed while investigating suspicious activity in an apartment complex parking lot. Officer Planer was working a plain-clothes, off duty security detail when he observed the man attempting to break into a car. The suspect saw Officer Planer approaching and tried to hide underneath a nearby car. The suspect then shot Officer Planer, who was unarmed.

Officer Planer had been with the agency for eight years and was survived by his daughter, father and three brothers.

Sergeant McDaniel died in a car accident as he was driving home at the end of a 10-hour shift, in a 1959 Plymouth police sedan. Sgt. McDaniel veered into the path of William G. Stockton's car and Stockton was unable to avoid the collision.

On January 13, 1959, Officer Branon was injured while trying to stop a speeding motorist on a highway. His motorcycle was struck and Officer Branon was paralyzed. The other driver did not stop. Several suspects were arrested but all were released after questioning.

Officer Beets and his partner, Auxiliary Captain Gougenheim, were checking the licenses at Jack's Place at 3003 1/2 Nance Street. The bar owner's brother, Manuel Ben Smith, shot Officer Beets as he was leaning behind the bar to read the tavern's beer license. Officer Beets never saw his attacker. He died an hour later in Jefferson Davis Hospital from gunshot wounds to the head and chest.

Smith ran outside after shooting Officer Beets and began firing at Captain Gougenheim, who was sitting in the parked patrol car. Captain Gougenheim exited the vehicle and returned fire. Smith was hit twice and died instantly. Captain Gougenheim was hit three times in the exchange and died face down in the street.

Around midnight on Saturday the 6th of November, 1937, Officer Martial and his partner, Officer M. R. George, were patrolling in the Woodland Heights when Officer George swerved to miss another vehicle and struck the curb. Officer Martial was thrown forward and bumped his head on a gun rack over the windshield.

Officer Martial was transported to St. Joseph's Infirmary where he was diagnosed with a blood clot resulting from a concussion. He passed away at 8:20 A.M. on Monday, the 8th of November, 1937.

Officer Mereness was killed in a motorcycle accident while making a left turn onto Park Place. His motorcycle struck another vehicle that was also making a turn. Officer Mereness was thrown to the ground and received fatal injuries. The driver of the other car was charged with negligent homicide in juvenile court.

Officer Mereness was survived by his wife, two sons, mother and sister.

Officer Landry was killed in a motorcycle accident while stopping a car on Tuam Avenue. His motorcycle struck the back of the vehicle he was stopping as the driver slowed to turn into a parking lot.

Officer Landry was survived by his wife, parents, sister and three brothers.

Officer Fitzgerald and Officer Willie Phares were shot and killed while responding to a bank robbery in downtown Houston. The suspect was captured and sentenced to death.

Officer Thomas was killed in a motorcycle accident involving a fire engine responding to a two-alarm fire. Officer Thomas heard the fire engine approaching and was attempting to get to the intersection to stop oncoming traffic. He entered the intersection at the same time as the fire engine and struck the back of it. He was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries ten hours later.

Officer Thomas was survived by his wife, parents, three brothers and sister.

Detective Jones was shot and killed with his own weapon in front of his home. His brother-in-law had tried to steal his service weapon and Detective Jones chased him outside where he was shot and killed.

Detective Jones was survived by his wife.

Detective Hope was shot and killed while responding to a disturbance call involving a weapon. Detective Hope went into the front door of the home and his partner went around to the rear. While Detective Hope was inside he was shot in the back of the head. His partner chased the suspect and shot and killed him during an exchange of gunfire.

Detective Hope was survived by his wife, parents, two brothers and five sisters.

Detective Davis and his partner, Detective Henry Bradshaw, were patrolling the Fourth Ward when they observed a group of men standing on a corner. One of the men ran, and Detective Davis followed him around a corner. Detective Bradshaw heard several shots and ran around the corner to find Detective Davis on the ground with gunshot wounds to his head and shoulder.

Robert Powell was arrested a short time later at his home. He had a gunshot wound in the abdomen. The following night a group of men entered the hospital, held the officer guarding the suspect at gunpoint, and escaped with the injured suspect. The suspects body was found the following day hanging from a bridge. The men had lynched him!

Detective Greene was shot and killed during a raid of an illegal liquor still. Detective Greene's partner was able to return fire, striking the suspect three times.

Detective Greene was survived by his wife, mother, four brothers and two sisters.

Officer Jones was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a suspect while working the night shift. He was survived by his parents and four children.

Detective Chavez was shot and killed while at the residence of a suspect. The suspect came home and shot Detective Chavez.

Detective Chavez was survived by his wife, son, two sisters and two brothers.

Detective Corrales was shot and killed after rushing to the scene of an argument after hearing a gunshot. Detective Corrales was in a barber shop when he heard the shot in the restaurant next door. As he ran into the business he confronted the suspect. Both men fired at the same time, striking each other.

Detective Corrales succumbed to his injuries later in the day. He was survived by nine children.

Officer Etheridge was killed in a motorcycle accident while pursuing a speeding car when another vehicle pulled out in front of him. The motorcycle skidded and turned over, causing Officer Etheridge to slide under the vehicle.

He was survived by his wife, parents, and three sisters.

Officers Murdock and McGraw responded to a shooting scene where the suspect had barricaded himself in the house. As the officers arrived they were met with a hail of gunfire, and Officer Murdock fell, shot in the jaw.

Officer Murdock had served with the Houston Police for less than a year at the time of his death. He had previously been employed as a state prison guard.

Detective Davidson was shot and killed after responding with his partner to a report of a prowler. When the suspect saw the detectives approached his position he dropped his gun and started walking. When Detective Davison and his partner attempted to stop the suspect he ran, picked up his gun and shot and killed Detective Davidson. Detective Davidson's partner returned fire killing the suspect.

Detective Davidson had been with the agency for three years and was survived by his wife, parents and sisters.

At the beginning of America's involvement in World War I in 1917, Houston received two military training facilities: Ellington Field for bomber crews and Camp Logan for the Illinois National Guard. While Camp Logan was being built (in what is now Memorial Park on the near West Side), security for the site was provided by the 3rd Battalion of the 24th Infantry.

16 whites, including police officers, civilians, and Texas and Illinois National Guardsmen were killed. No black civilians were killed, but 4 soldiers from the 24th Infantry were. Other rioting soldiers accidentally shot two of these, one was shot in the leg by a citizen and later died in the hospital, and the fourth was Sergeant Henry.

Deputy Chief William E. Murphy, acting as Night Chief, was on break and walked to the nearby Acme Restaurant at 904 Preston. Murphy had finished his meal and was sitting at a table rolling a cigarette when Earl McFarland entered the restaurant holding a gun. McFarland shot Murphy one time and fled on foot. He was arrested a couple of blocks away.

McFarland was acquitted of Murphy's murder in February 1911. McFarland was a former police officer and his assertion that he acted in self-defense could not be refuted due to a lack of eyewitnesses.

A gambling promoter named Sid Preacher confronted Officers John C. James and Herman Youngst at the corner of San Jacinto and Congress streets. Preacher grabbed a double-barrelled shotgun from a buggy and shouted at the officers to "come on." Officer James approached first and was immediately hit by a shotgun blast, knocking him to the ground. Officer Youngst ran out into the open and was also shot, but was able to return fire, wounding Preacher. Preacher ran up to Youngst and struck him in the head with the shotgun, killing him. Officer James, lying wounded nearby in the street, was able to fire once more, killing Preacher. Chief of Police Blackburn was nearby, and responded to the sound of gunfire. He arrived in time to have Officer James die in his arms. Preacher had been arrested the previous day and had been advised by his attorney to "shoot the belly off" any policeman who attempted to arrest him without a warrant.

Officer Herman Youngst arrested John T. Vaughn for firing a gun through the window of his apartment about 7:00 P.M. on July 29, 1901. Vaughn bonded out of the city jail about 11:00 P.M. and went to his business to meet his brother, Newt Vaughn. The brothers asked a local lawyer, R. E. Kahn, to accompany them to find Officer Youngst and ask how John Vaughn could go about retrieving his property, which he had failed to get when he left the jail.

The Vaughn brothers ran into the saloon and out the back door. Officers Youngst, Henry Lee, and John C. James responded to the sound of gunfire and began pursuing them. Running out the back of the saloon, Officer Lee was shot at and returned fire, wounding John Vaughn. The chase continued around the block until the Vaughns were captured near where Officer Weiss' body lay.

Officer Fenn responded to a disturbance call at the Davis Lounge on Preston street on Saturday night, March 14, 1891. While talking to a friend of his in the band, Officer Fenn noticed a man with a pistol in his hand. Officer Fenn began walking towards him when the suspect turned and fired several times into Officer Fenn's abdomen. The suspect threw the pistol to an accomplice who also tried to shoot Officer Fenn, but the gun malfunctioned. Both suspects immediately fled.

McGee was never located. It was widely held that he escaped to Louisiana where he had family.

On Saturday night, February 6, 1886, Officer Williams responded to a report of a fight at Usener's Saloon, but found the suspects had left. He located them in Charley Tharonat's Saloon and confronted them, but they scattered before he could make an arrest.

Terry showed up for court Monday morning but found that court would not be held until later in the day. He proceeded to Market Square and, spying Officer Williams, pulled his pistol and made some remarks to the effect he was going to kill him. Deputy Constable Sam Perkins grabbed Terry in an attempt to stop him from firing, but Terry was able to fire several times. Officer Williams, only about 5 feet away, tried to evade the gunfire, but was hit after stumbling over a civilian in the crowded Market Square. Officer Williams never had a chance to pull his pistol.

Officer Foley was shot and killed by a suspect attempting to interfere with the officers duties. Officer Foley was patrolling in the market area when the suspect approached him and for unknown reasons, attempted to interfere with his duties. Officer Foley struck the suspect, and the suspect fled. He returned later in the day with a double barreled shotgun and killed Officer Foley.