John David Wilbanks
Agency patch
Senior Police Officer

John David Wilbanks

Houston Police Department — Houston, TX
COVID-19 → Illness
End of Watch October 13, 2021
Age 53
Tour of Duty 27 yrs
Gender Male

Incident

Senior Police Officer John Wilbanks died as a result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty.

Officer Wilbanks had served with the Houston Police Department for 27 years and was assigned to the Special Operations Division.

COVID-19 and Law Enforcement

Senior Police Officer John David Wilbanks died on October 13, 2021 of COVID-19 contracted in the line of duty. He was 53.

He is one of 885 officers honored here, and one of 2 at Houston Police Department.

Beginning in early 2020, law enforcement officers across the country contracted COVID-19 in the course of their duties. While much of the nation sheltered at home, they kept answering calls, making arrests, transporting prisoners, and working face to face with the public. There was no distance to be had from the job.

Corrections officers were hit hardest. Confined facilities and large populations meant constant, close, unavoidable exposure.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtp56sdqt2kw37d5es5ng
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew John. Claim this record.

Also honored at requiem.nw. One record, 2 gates. John is one person.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

The country locked its doors. You kept working.
Senior Police Officer Wilbanks gave the Houston Police Department 27 years.
Thank you for your service to the Houston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Senior Police Officer Wilbanks.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Houston, Harris County, TX
Platform Identity hpd.harris.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 13, 2021
Tour of Duty 27 yrs
Age 53
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Illness

The Sacrifice · Illness

John is one of 2,028 officers lost to illness in the United States, 7.4% of the 27,552 remembered there.

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

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 2021, 564 officers in the United States were lost to illness, more than in any other year.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 53. Of the 1,996 lost to illness in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 42 and 58; the middle age was 51. John had served 27 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.

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

When

October holds 14.9% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Wednesdays: 14%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Illness deaths account for 7.4% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 3rd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Senior Police Officer John David Wilbanks

Houston Police Department · End of Watch October 13, 2021

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 41-W

Also Remembered

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial — requiem.nw →

↑