Prev Next

Police Officer

John Terrell Bamsch

Houston Police Department — Houston, TX

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch January 30, 1975

Age 27

Tour of Duty 2 yrs 6 mo

Badge 1388

The Vigil Panel 252 · Column 1 · Line 18 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Military Also Remembered Department 116

Incident

Police Officer Johnny Bamsch was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a suspect during a robbery-in-progress call at a convenience store at Yale and Norview at 1 a.m. As he and his partner pursued the suspects, gunfire was exchanged, and Officer Bamsch was struck in the shoulder. He was transported to Parkway Hospital where he was pronounced dead. One of the suspects, 18, hit with a shotgun blast in the back, fired by his partner, was hospitalized in serious condition. The other two escaped. The suspect, 18, also the killer, was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life in prison. As of January 1, 2022, he was still in prison. Officer Bamsch was a U.S. Marine Corps Vietnam veteran and had served with the Houston Police Department for two and a half years.

Survivors

He was survived by his expectant wife and parents.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: neuraspine_01krbxtqh1cn7xsff7ph39b3f0
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 salute.nw — U.S. Marine Corps. 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

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 Bamsch 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 January 30, 1975

Tour of Duty 2 yrs 6 mo

Age 27

Badge Number 1388

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

Military Service

John Terrell Bamsch served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

The Sacrifice · Felonious

John 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 1975, 163 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 21st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

John was 27. 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. John 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

January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

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 gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded