Officer Gilbert E. Ramirez

Officer Gilbert E. Ramirez
San Antonio Police Department, TX
Born: 1949
Cause of Death: Gunfire
End of Watch: Saturday, December 24, 1983
Date of Incident: Saturday, December 24, 1983
Age: 34
Badge Number: 227
Tour of Duty: 5 yr
Suspect Info: Gustavo Pimmental, Capital Murder
Weapon Used: Shotgun
Buried: San Fernando Cemetery #2
Location of Name on National and Texas Monuments
NLEOMF:
TPOM:

At 11 pm, Officer Ramirez had been dispatched to 246 Tedder for a report of two men fighting in the front yard. The fight had ended before officers had arrived. Officers were interviewing the people located in the yard when Gustavo Pimmental, began to approach the officers from another residence, with a shotgun in hand. Officer Ramirez ordered the people he was interviewing inside the home for their safety. Officers seek cover behind a pick up truck when the Pimmental approached. Officers ordered the Pimmental to drop the weapon. The Pimmental fired one shot over the bed of the truck. Officer Ramirez returned three shots before being struck with the shotgun by Pimmental. Pimmental was arrested and charged with Capital Murder. It was later discovered Pimmental was one of the men fighting with the resident at location over loud music.

Reserve Deputy Arturo E. Rodriguez

Reserve Deputy Arturo Enrique Rodriguez
Bexar County Sheriff's Department, TX
Born: October 11, 1930
Cause of Death: Struck by vehicle
End of Watch: Tuesday, December 14, 1982
Date of Incident: Tuesday, December 14, 1982
Age: 52
Tour of Duty: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Weapon Used: Not available
Buried: Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery
Location of Name on National and Texas Monuments
NLEOMF: P2 - E17
TPOM: 32, B, 04

Officer Rodriguez had stopped to direct traffic at the scene of an accident on Interstate 35 just south of US 90 interchange. Officer Rodriguez exited his vehicle with a flashlight in hand and began directing traffic. A car entering the expressway from the nearby Theo Avenue ramp pulled around a slower-moving vehicle and immediately collided with one of the vehicles involved in the prior accident. The vehicle that entered the expressway glanced off the wrecked vehicle and struck Deputy Rodriguez. Officer Rodriguez died at Wilford Hall Air Force Medical Center from his injuries.

He was survived by his wife, Mrs. Maria Rose Rodriguez, mother and stepfather, Juan & Petra Martinez of San Antonio; daughter, Rosalinda Garcia, Veronica Castillo, San Antonio; Judy Salinas, Austin, Joyce Dodge, New Orleans, La; brothers, Johnny & Raymond Martinez, San Antonio, and Arnulfo Martinez, Wisconsin; 6 grandchildren. Interment was at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery with full military honors. ----source San Antonio Express News

Deputy George R. Garza

Deputy Sheriff George Ronald Garza Sr.
Bexar County Sheriff's Department, TX
Born: November 24, 1957
Cause of Death: Automobile accident
End of Watch: Monday, September 20, 1982
Date of Incident: Saturday, September 18, 1982
Age: 24
Tour of Duty: Not available
Suspect Info: N/A
Weapon Used: N/A
Buried: San Fernando Cemetery #3
Location of Name on National and Texas Monuments
NLEOMF: P7 - E10
TPOM: 11, B, 18

Deputy Garza was killed in an automobile accident on Interstate Highway 35 South Frontage Road while responding to an officer needs assistance call at the Armadillo Club in Von Ormy at 4:00 am. His vehicle overturned in the 15,000 block of Interstate Highway 35 South frontage road, near Von Ormy at 4:00 am, Saturday, September 18, 1982. Deputy Garza, who was off-duty at the time of the accident died on Monday, September 20, 1982 at Wilford Hall U.S. Air Force Medical Center. Deputy Garza, 24, had recently been transferred to patrol duties after working as a jailer.

He was survived by his wife, Sylvia Garza; sons, George Ronald Garza, Jr., and Christopher Michael Garza; father, Juan Joe Garza; mother, Molly Ramon; brother, Joe Gerald Garza; and grandmother, Refugia G. Ramon of San Antonio. Interment was at Roselawn Memorial Park / San Fernando Cemetery #3.

Officer Joseph P. Marshall

Officer Joseph Partee Marshall
Windcrest Police Department, TX
Cause of Death: Motorcycle accident
End of Watch: Tuesday, January 26, 1982
Date of Incident: Tuesday, January 25, 1982
Age: 26
Badge Number: Not available
Tour of Duty: 1 year
Suspect Info: Not available
Weapon Used: Automobile
Buried: Sunset Hills Cemetery, Granite Falls, North Carolina
Location of Name on National and Texas Monuments
NLEOMF: P60 - W5
TPOM: 16, C, 06

Officer Joseph Marshall was working an off-duty funeral escort on January 25, 1982. Minutes after he had escorted the funeral procession to Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, his police motorcycle collided with another vehicle as Officer Marshall traveled northbound at the 1500 block of Harry Wurzbach. Officer Marshall suffered head injuries and a broken left arm. He died from his injuries the following day.
The tragedy was an accident so no charges were made.

Officer Marshall was survived by his parents and two sisters from Marietta, Georgia and both Grandmothers from North Carolina. Officer Marshall joined Windcrest Police February 23, 1981 and was the first officer killed in the line of duty, from this department. ----source San Antonio Light, San Antonio Express News and Windcrest Police website

Officer Alfredo F. Araiza

Officer Alfredo Flores Araiza
Live Oak Police Department, TX
Born: December 10, 1955
Cause of Death: Gunfire/Head-On Vehicular Crash
End of Watch: Thursday, January 17, 1980
Date of Incident: Thursday, January 17, 1980
Age: 25
Badge Number: 208
Tour of Duty: 1 year
Suspect Info: Richard Graham and Robert Graham; Charged with Manslaughter and Capital Murder
Weapon Used: Multiple Handguns
Buried: San Fernando Cemetery #2
Location of Name on National and Texas Monuments
NLEOMF: P5 - E5
TPOM: 10, C, 09


On January 17, 1980 at 1:42 pm, Officer Alfredo Araiza was working stationary radar in the 13200 block of IH 35 North at which time he clocked a white sedan speeding over the posted speed limit. Officer Araiza gave pursuit and attempted to pull over the vehicle in question at which time the vehicle increased speed in excess of 100 mph and attempted to elude capture. Officer Araiza radioed dispatch that he was in pursuit of this vehicle traveling westbound on FM Loop 1604.
Unknown to Officer Araiza, at the time, the two men in the vehicle had just committed a home invasion robbery and had $500,000 worth of Methamphetamines and PCP in the car and $8,000 in cash. The suspects, armed with three handguns began to shoot at Officer Araiza.

Officer Araiza reported via radio that he was being shot at by a passenger in the vehicle and requested assistance. Shortly thereafter, radio contact was lost with Officer Araiza. It was determined that Officer Araiza had lost control of his marked patrol unit as a result of being shot at by the defendants. Within minutes it was discovered that Officer Araiza had driven his patrol vehicle into the path of an on coming 18 wheeled gravel truck, at a speed of approximately 115 mph, causing a collision and a fire which threw Officer Araiza 80 feet and completely disintegrated his patrol car. The fiery collision instantly killed Officer Araiza and injured the driver of the on-coming rig. Although it was not medically proven due to his extensive injuries, it is believed Officer Araiza was struck by the suspects’ gunfire and lost control of his vehicle which then collided with a large gravel truck. The fleeing suspects, Robert and Richard Graham of Bulverde, Texas were apprehended later that afternoon after they entered a home and held the owners captive. Robert and Richard surrendered to DPS and charged with felony possession of methamphetamine and Capital Murder of a Police Officer.

Officer Araiza was survived by his wife of six months, parents, 6 sisters, and 1 brother.

Officer Araiza held a degree in Law Enforcement from Southwest Texas State University. ----source San Antonio Light, San Antonio Express News, and Live Oak website

Granite marker has been placed in front of Live Oak's new Justice Center to honor the memory of Officer Araiza. On February 23, 2010 Live Oak City Council approved to name the new Justice Center Training Room after Officer Araiza.

Standing outside the new Live Oak Justice Center are (from left), Dan Pue, assistant police chief; Matt Smith, city manager; Joe Painter, mayor; and Ron Echols, police chief. The granite marker is a dedication to officer Alfredo Araiza, who died in the line of duty. Photo by Jeff B. Flinn

Deputy Elwood E. Groff

Deputy Sheriff Elwood E. Groff
Bexar County Sheriff's Department, TX
Born: November 4, 1922
Cause of Death: Gunfire
End of Watch: Monday, October 15, 1979
Date of Incident: Monday, October 15, 1979
Age: 57
Tour of Duty: 11 yr
Badge: 484
Suspect Info: Committed suicide
Weapon Used: Handgun
Buried: Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery
Location of Name on National and Texas Monuments
NLEOMF: P34 - W17
TPOM: 30, B, 10

Deputy Elwood Groff died as a result of a gunshot on October 1, 1979. Deputy Groff, 57, was working, off duty security as an apartment security officer in the 8000 Blk of Midcrown. Deputy Groff, who lived at the apartment complex, had gone to the apartment to check on a verbal disturbance. Deputy Groff met San Antonio officers who were called on the scene. They found that the suspect had left the scene and Deputy Groff informed the San Antonio officers he would handle the incident. After the officers left; the suspect Alvin Henderson, 32, returned to the scene shortly before 10 PM and shot Deputy Groff in the chest, killing him. Henderson then turned the gun on his girlfriends Grandmother and shot her in the face, killing her, and shooting his girlfriend in the shoulder. Henderson then fled to his mother's home, entered the backyard and shot himself. Henderson died at the scene. Deputy Groff, a patrolman, had been a deputy since 1968 and was assigned to patrol the northeast section of the county.

Groff, a patrolman had been a deputy since 1968 and was assigned to patrol the northeast section of the county. Groff was survived by Sons; Michael E. Groff and his wife, Lisa, Jackson Florida, son Patrick J. Groff and his wife, Jodi; son Steven C. Groff, and his wife, Mary; son John L.Groff, son Chris A. Groff, son Edward Groff, and daughter, Mrs. Clayton (Mary) Bordner, all of San Antonio, Texas. Brother, Ellisworth Stein, of Grand Junction, Colorado and Cecil of Florida. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Groff, sister, Dorothy Urmanski; and 6 grandchildren all from Wausau, Wisconsin. Deputy Groff was a veteran of the World War II, Korean War and the Vietnam War and a Bronze Start and Purple Heart recipient. Served as a SSGT in the U.S. Airforce. He had been with the agency for 11 years. ----source San Antonio Express News

Detective Bernabe Salazar

Detective Bernabe "Bernie" Salazar Jr.
San Antonio Police Department, TX
Born: January 11, 1947
Cause of Death: Gunfire
End of Watch: Thursday, November 16, 1978
Date of Incident: Thursday, November 16, 1978
Age: 31
Badge Number: 98
Tour of Duty: 10 years
Suspect Info: Charged with capital murder, Paroled after 30 years
Weapon Used: 9 mm handgun
Buried: San Fernando Cemetery #2
Location of Name on National and Texas Monuments
NLEOMF: P62 - W13
TPOM: 12, C, 02

Detective Salazar and Bexar County Deputy Frank Ashton, members of a city-county metro narcotics task force, were in street clothes serving a warrant on Nava Walk in the San Juan Homes. The officers knocked on the door, but their guns were not drawn. Federico LoSaya fired two shots from a 9mm through the door struck Officer Salazar under the eye and mortally wounded him. Deputy Ashton was wounded in the head by the fragments from the shot that struck Officer Salazar, but he dragged Officer Salazar away after he fell. Officer Salazar was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital. Federico LoSaya, 28, was apprehended and charged with capital murder. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison, but has since been paroled.

Officer Salazar was survived by his wife and two children. ---- source San Antonio Express News and ODMP website

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

Officer George E. Copeland III

Officer George E. Copeland III
San Antonio Police Department, TX
Born: July 23, 1947
Cause of Death: Struck by vehicle
End of Watch: Saturday, September 13, 1975
Date of Incident: Saturday, September 13, 1975
Age: 28
Badge Number: 543
Tour of Duty: 8 years
Suspect Info: Louis Domingo Vasquez; charged with Involuntary Manslaughter and Aggravated Assault
Weapon Used: Vehicle
Buried: Holy Cross Cemetery
Location of Name on National and Texas Monuments
NLEOMF: P61 - W7
TPOM: 33, C, 05

Officer George Copeland III and Officer James Bennett Jr. were directing traffic around an accident at 12:52 am, on IH 35 just south of Nogalitos. Officer Copeland was asked to get more flares to place around the accident ahead. Officer Copeland and Officer Bennett were reaching for the additional flares behind Officer Copeland's patrol unit, which had its emergency lights initiated and flares around it. They were struck from behind while standing by their patrol car by Vasquez's vehicle which was traveling at a high rate of speed. Officer Copeland's patrol unit burst into flames as both officers were tossed over 100 feet. Both Officers died from massive bodily injuries and severe burns.

Officer Copeland was survived by his wife, 2 sons, parents and 2 sisters. Officer Copeland was born in Coris, Maine and joined San Antonio Police in 1968.San Antonio Light and San Antonio Express News

Officer James W. Bennett

Officer James Wilson Bennnette Jr.
San Antonio Police Department, TX
Born: April 8, 1945
Cause of Death: Struck by vehicle
End of Watch: Saturday, September 13, 1975
Date of Incident: Saturday, September 13, 1975
Age: 30
Badge Number: 393
Tour of Duty: 3 years
Suspect Info: Louis Domingo Vasquez; charged with Involuntary Manslaughter and Aggravated Assault
Weapon Used: Vehicle
Buried: Parker Ridge Cemetery, Groveton, Texas
Location of Name on National and Texas Monuments
NLEOMF: P22 - E22
TPOM: 09, B, 09

Officer James Bennett Jr. and Officer George Copeland III were directing traffic around an accident at 12:52 am, on IH 35 just south of Nogalitos. Officer Copeland was asked to get more flares to place around the accident ahead. Officer Copeland and Officer Bennett were reaching for the additional flares behind Officer Copeland's patrol unit, which had its emergency lights initiated and flares around it. They were struck from behind while standing by their patrol car by Vasquez's vehicle which was traveling at a high rate of speed. Officer Copeland's patrol unit burst into flames as both officers were tossed over 100 feet. Both Officers died from massive bodily injuries and severe burns.

Officer Bennett was survived by his wife, 2 daughters, 2 sons, parents, 3 sisters, and 7 brothers. Officer Bennett was born in Groveton, Texas and was a Freemason of St. Jubes Masonic Lodge in Groveton, Texas. He joined San Antonio Police in 1973. ---- source San Antonio Light, San Antonio Express News, and Officer Bennett's obituary