Officer Eloy F. Gonzales

Officer Eloy Flores Gonzales
San Antonio Police Department, TX
Born: 1948
Cause of Death: Gunfire
End of Watch: Monday, August 15, 1977
Date of Incident: Monday, August 15, 1977
Age: 27
Badge Number: 466
Tour of Duty: 5 years
Suspect Info: Juan Vasquez Garza; charged with murder
Weapon Used: .38 caliber handgun
Buried: San Fernando Cemetery #2
Location of Name on National and Texas Monuments
NLEOMF: P12 - E11
TPOM: 12, C, 02

At 2:30 a.m. on August 15, 1977, Officer Eloy Gonzales was patrolling westbound on W. Commerce near Calaveras St., when he was flagged down near a lounge by two women who reported a struggle between Juan Vasquez Garza a Mexican national, and their female friend. As Officer Gonzales approached Garza and woman in an alley, the man fired a .38 caliber pistol striking the Officer Gonzales in the chest. After Officer Gonzales fell, he was shot again in the leg. Officer Gonzales had been wearing a protective vest, but had removed it because of the heat. The Garza departed the location with the woman as a lounge patron walked out to see Garza depart. The patron rushed to Officer Gonzales and grabbed his service weapon and radioed for assistance. The patron followed Garza to alert police of Garza's location. Police apprehended Garza and he was charged with murder.

Officer Gonzales was survived by his wife and two daughters. Gonzales had been with San Antonio Police since May 1973. ----source San Antonio Express News