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Police Officer

Ben Eddie Gerhart

Houston Police Department — Houston, TX

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch June 26, 1968

Age 45

Tour of Duty 15 yrs

Badge 1230

The Vigil Panel 228 · Column 3 · Line 17 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Military Memorials 1 Also Remembered Department 116

Incident

Officer Gerhart was shot and killed after arresting a suspect for littering on West Loop Freeway near Interstate-10. Officer Bobby James was killed when the suspect forced his cruiser off the road during the ensuing chase. Officer Gerhart had stopped the suspect after observing the man and a woman throwing bottles from their car. He placed the suspect in his cruiser and returned to the vehicle to talk to the woman. The man suddenly ran back to the car and retrieved a handgun from under the seat and opened fire as Officer Gerhart drew his weapon. The suspect then stole Officer Gerhart's weapon and fled the scene. Several officers began chasing the suspect after locating the vehicle. During the pursuit, the suspect fired at the officers before forcing Officer James' cruiser off the road. The suspect fled on foot but was shot and killed in an ensuing shootout. Officer Gerhart was a U.S Army veteran of WWII and had served with the Houston Police Department for 15 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and daughter.

In Our Keeping

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Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. Ben is one person.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Police Officer Gerhart gave the Houston Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Houston community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Houston Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Houston, Harris County, TX

Platform Identity hpd.harris.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 26, 1968

Tour of Duty 15 yrs

Age 45

Badge Number 1230

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Military Service

Ben Eddie Gerhart served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Ben is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

Compare against

Time

In 1968, 91 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 62nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

Ben was 45. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Ben had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

June holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

By month

By day of the week

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded