Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Benny Berry was shot and killed as he and Deputy Sheriff Walter Eckert attempted to serve a felony warrant on a man for writing bad checks. At 9:30 a.m., the deputies entered the man's residence at 7401 Grover Avenue in Austin after being told by a neighbor that the man was inside the home. The suspect opened fire on the deputies with an M-1 carbine, mortally wounding Deputy Berry in the chest and Deputy Eckert in the hip and calf. Deputy Eckert returned fire but did not strike the shooter as he fled the house. Deputy Eckert went to the house next door for back-up. The suspect, who was on federal probation, was arrested and sentenced to 99 years in prison, but was released after serving only 13 years. Deputy Eckert was transported to Brackenridge Hospital. Due to his wounds, he was medically retired. He succumbed to his wounds on June 4, 1975. Deputy Berry had served with the Travis County Sheriff's Office for almost six years. He was survived by his son and by his wife, a dispatcher at the Travis County Sheriff's Office. It was his wife who received the first call of "Officer Down" at the Sheriff's office when her husband was shot and killed at the scene.
Survivors
He was survived by his son and by his wife, a dispatcher at the Travis County Sheriff's Office.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-40E3115C- 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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Berry gave the Travis County Sheriff's Office 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Austin community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Berry.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Benjamin Hawkins Berry 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 Travis County Sheriff's Department, 6 of 8 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Benjamin Hawkins Berry's cause is highlighted.
How Benjamin Hawkins Berry Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Benjamin Hawkins Berry is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Benjamin Hawkins Berry was killed by rifle.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
7 officers from Travis County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
