Officer Ralph Wendell Hoyt
Bio
- Age: 24
- Tour: 9 months
- Badge: 31
Incident Details
- Cause: Motorcycle crash
- Incident Date: Friday, February 19, 1937
About
Officer Ralph Hoyt succumbed to injuries received the previous day when his motorcycle struck a roadway depression and he was thrown off.
He had been with the agency for nine months and was survived by his parents, sister, and two brothers.
Link to ODMP website where content was taken: Source
Detective John Rush Roberts
Bio
- Age: 58
- Tour: 29 years
- Badge: Not available
Incident Details
- Cause: Gunfire
- Weapon: Handgun; .38 caliber
- Offender: Executed in 1937
About
Detective John Roberts was shot and killed after interrupting a gas station robbery. As he went for his service weapon he was shot and killed by the robber. The suspect stole $8.00 and fled but was eventually apprehended.
The 27-year-old suspect was an escapee from the North Carolina Penitentiary where he was serving a life sentence for murder. He was convicted of Detective Roberts' murder and executed in the electric chair on June 4, 1937.
Detective Roberts had served with the agency for 29 years. He was survived by his wife, son, three daughters, and two sisters.
Link to ODMP website where content was taken: Source
Officer John William Dieken
Bio
- Age: 33
- Tour: 1 year, 1 month
- Badge: 207
Incident Details
- Cause: Motorcycle crash
- Incident Date: Friday, August 9, 1935
About
Officer John Dieken was killed in a motorcycle accident while responding to a fire call. During his response another motorist turned in front of him causing a collision. He succumbed to his injuries the next day.
Investigation revealed that the motorcycle Officer Dieken was riding had previously been involved in two other accidents in which the rider was either injured or killed.
Officer Dieken had served with the agency for just over one year. He was survived by his wife, son (born three days before his death), parents, and sister. His son later worked with the Abilene Police Department in Texas.
Link to ODMP website where content was taken: Source
Officer Ernest Edmund Leonard, Jr.
Bio
- Age: 23
- Tour: 2 years, 3 months
- Badge: 51
Incident Details
- Cause: Vehicle pursuit
- Weapon: Not available
- Offender: Not available
About
Officer Ernest Leonard was killed in a motorcycle accident while attempting to catch a speeder.
Officer Leonard had served with the Dallas Police Department for two years. He was survived by his parents, four brothers, and sister.
Link to ODMP website where content was taken: Source
Officer Luke J. Bell
Bio
- Age: 35
- Tour: 5 years
- Badge: 153
- Military Veteran
Incident Details
- Cause: Gunfire
- Weapon: Officer's handgun
- Offender: Executed
About
Officer Luke Bell was shot and killed with his own handgun after recapturing a prisoner who escaped his custody.
The officer was transporting three prisoners to jail when one fled. He caught up to the escapee who put his hands up as to surrender. However, the man grabbed Officer Bell's handgun and shot him in the side. The suspect was shot and wounded after a long police chase and subsequently executed.
Officer Bell had been employed with the Dallas Police Department for five years and had previously served with the United States Army. He was survived by his wife, two brothers, and two sisters. He is buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Dallas, Texas.
Link to ODMP website where content was taken: Source
Officer Jesse Emmett Griffin
Bio
- Age: 35
- Tour: 4 years
- Badge: 291
Incident Details
- Cause: Motorcycle crash
- Incident Date: Wednesday, December 27, 1933
About
Officer Jesse Griffin was killed in a motorcycle accident while responding to a stabbing call.
During his response another driver turned in front of him causing a collision. He succumbed to his injuries the next day.
Officer Griffin had served with the Dallas Police Department for four years. He was survived by his wife and daughter.
Link to ODMP website where content was taken: Source
Officer Sam Griffin Lanford
Bio
- Age: 48
- Tour: 6 years
- Badge: 170
Incident Details
- Cause: Gunfire
- Weapon: Gun; Unknown type
- Offender: Executed
About
Officer Griffin Lanford was shot and killed after he and his partner interrupted a burglary. Officer Lanford was fatally shot by the burglar. His partner was able to wound the suspect who was later arrested and executed.
Officer Lanford had been with the agency for six years. He was survived by his wife, daughter, three bothers, and two sisters.
Link to ODMP website where content was taken: Source
Officer Alexander W. Tedford
Bio
- Age: 51
- Tour: 14 years, 9 months
- Badge: 26
Incident Details
- Cause: Duty related illness
- Incident Date: Tuesday, April 24, 2018
About
Officer Alex Tedford died after contracting an infection while conducting a prohibition raid. During the raid Officer Tedford fell and tore ligaments in one of his legs. A blood clot and infection formed, causing his death.
He was survived by his wife, daughter, and two sons.
Officer Tedford's brother, T. A. Tedford, was shot and killed in the line of duty 15 years earlier while serving as a member of the Dallas Police Department.
Link to ODMP website where content was taken: Source
Officer Clarence Marshall Isbell
Bio
- Age: 25
- Tour: 5 months
- Badge: 15
Incident Details
- Cause: Gunfire
- Weapon: Gun; Unknown type
- Offender: Executed
About
Officer Clarence Isbell was shot and killed while attempting to stop a speeding vehicle on Forest Avenue.
As he pulled next to the vehicle to tell the driver to pull over, a shot was fired from inside the vehicle, striking Officer Isbell in the head.
Two of the subjects fled the scene and were pursued across Texas into Arkansas over the course of several days. On the night of February 9, 1926, they fatally shot Special Agent H. H. Delmas, of the Kansas City Southern Railroad Police Department. They were both apprehended after the murder and returned to Dallas.
The two subjects, who were brothers, were executed on the same day for Officer Isbell's murder.
Officer Isbell had served with the Dallas Police Department for five months. He was survived by his wife, parents, brother, and two sisters.
Link to ODMP website where content was taken: Source
Officer Charles S. Swinney
Bio
- Age: 52
- Tour: Not available
- Badge: Not available
Incident Details
- Cause: Gunfire
- Weapon: Gun; Unknown type
- Offender: Sentenced to 5 years
About
Officer Charles Swinney was shot and killed on Knox Street while patrolling the area's business district.
A struggle ensued when he confronted two suspicious men and one of the men shot him. Despite being mortally wounded, Officer Swinney was able to identify the suspects before dying. Both suspects were arrested. One was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to five years.
Officer Swinney was survived by his wife.
Link to ODMP website where content was taken: Source
