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Police Officer

Cuong Huy Trinh

Houston Police Department — Houston, TX

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch April 6, 1997

Age 25

Tour of Duty 2 yrs 6 mo

Badge 5891

The Vigil Panel 320 · Column 1 · Line 3 ›

Gender Male

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

Incident

Officer Cuong Trinh was shot and killed while off duty when he was identified as a police officer during a robbery at 2716 Westerland Drive. He was working at a store owned by his parents when an armed suspect jumped over the counter and took money out of the cash register. He then demanded Officer Trinh's wallet. When he opened the wallet he saw Officer Trinh's badge and police identification. Officer Trinh then told the man to leave or he would be arrested. The suspect responded by shooting Officer Trinh in the head, killing him. The shooter was arrested and sentenced to death. The getaway driver was also apprehended. Officer Trinh was a U.S. Navy veteran and had served with the Houston Police Department for 2-1/2 years. He is survived by his fiancee, parents, and brother. His fiancee and brother also went on to serve as police officers.

Survivors

He is survived by his fiancee, parents, and brother.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
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. Navy. One record, 2 gates. Cuong 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 Trinh gave the Houston Police Department 2 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 April 6, 1997

Tour of Duty 2 yrs 6 mo

Age 25

Badge Number 5891

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Military Service

Cuong Huy Trinh served in the U.S. Navy before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Cuong 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 1997, 88 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 71st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

Cuong was 25. 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. Cuong had served 2.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.

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