Roll of Honor
Avant Burmeister Coward
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Avant Coward was shot and killed on the front lawn of the county jail on Broadway Street in Jourdanton. Deputy Coward had sent a message to the man earlier in the day, requesting that he come to the jail to answer questions about cattle rustling. The man arrived at the jail with a shotgun and immediately exchanged shots with Deputy Coward. Both men were fatally wounded. Deputy Coward had served with the Atascosa County Sheriff's Department for 20 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, four daughters, and one granddaughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-BF2CF880- 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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Tributes
20 years. You could have gone home.
Deputy Sheriff Coward gave the Atascosa County Sheriff's Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Jourdanton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Coward.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Avant Burmeister Coward 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 97,775 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 Atascosa County Sheriff's Department, 7 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Avant Burmeister Coward's cause is highlighted.
How Avant Burmeister Coward Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Avant Burmeister Coward is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Avant Burmeister Coward was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from Atascosa County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
