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William Bonner Phares
Agency patch
Officer

William Bonner Phares

Houston Police Department — Houston, TX
Felonious
United States flag Texas flag
End of Watch September 30, 1930
Age 26
The Vigil Panel 60 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Keepsakes Department 116

Incident

Officer Willie Phares and Officer Edward Fitzgerald were shot and killed at the intersection of Anita Avenue and Milam Street by one of two men as they approached their car to question them about a robbery that had occurred several hours earlier at a furniture store. Officer Phares was transported to the hospital, where he remained until succumbing to his wounds ten days later. The suspects were captured a short time later. The gunman was sentenced to death and executed in the electric chair on November 28, 1930. Officer Phares had served with the Houston Police Department.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, infant son, parents, and two brothers.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
NW-4PNW-ANKC-X earlier record number BO-US-TX-02300B7F
Stewardship
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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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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Phares served with the Houston Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Houston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Phares.

— 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 September 30, 1930
Age 26
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

William is one of 15,741 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.2% of the 27,543 remembered there.

33,910 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1930, 239 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 26. Of the 14,215 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.2% of all 27,543 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Houston Police Department has 117 officers remembered here, William among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Officer William Bonner Phares

Houston Police Department · End of Watch September 30, 1930

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 58-W

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