Albert R. Bradley
Agency patch
Superintendent

Albert R. Bradley

Port Arthur Police Department — Port Arthur, TX
Felonious
End of Watch December 13, 1936
Age 32
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
The Vigil Panel 72 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Superintendent of Police Albert Bradley was shot and killed while attempting to question a suspect at a disturbance call.

Superintendent Bradley, along with James McWilliams and Houston police officer F.M. Sallee, left the police station at about 10:40 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12 to investigate a report of trouble at a sporting house located on Eighth Street.

When the group arrived, a woman who was standing in the door of the house pointed toward two men who were standing on the sidewalk claiming that they were the ones responsible for the trouble. McWilliams and Bradley walked up to the pair and asked for identification. Bradley and one of the suspects began to quarrel, questioning each other’s authority. A gun battle quickly developed. McWilliams said during the scuffle, the suspect jerked away from him and shot Bradley. McWilliams then pulled his pistol and shot the suspect. Both men died just after midnight.

Port Arthur Police Chief H.F. Baker later said that the incident was the result of mistaken identity. The suspect was said to be a “special officer” of the “Texas Company, ” which is now known as Texaco. Port Arthur provided police commissions to the security staff at Texaco at the time.

Bradley died the day after he was shot. He had been with the agency for six years and was survived by his parents and ten siblings.

Survivors

He had been with the agency for six years and was survived by his parents and ten siblings.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-22CD7981
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 Albert. Claim this record.

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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Superintendent Bradley gave the Port Arthur Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Port Arthur community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Superintendent Bradley.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Port Arthur, Jefferson County, TX
Platform Identity papd.jefferson.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 13, 1936
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
Age 32
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun

Superintendent Albert R. Bradley is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In TX, 1,461 of 2,422 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 60.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Port Arthur Police Department, 6 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 85.7% of this agency's fallen.

Port Arthur Police Department
6
of 7 officers
85.7% Felonious
TX — Statewide
1,461
of 2,422 officers
60.3% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Albert R. Bradley's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Albert R. Bradley Compares

Age at Death
32
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
6
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Albert R. Bradley is highlighted in Dec.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Albert R. Bradley was killed by handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909