Bobby Paul Doherty
Agency patch
Ranger

Bobby Paul Doherty

Felonious
End of Watch February 21, 1978
Age 41
Tour of Duty 20 yrs
The Vigil Panel 119 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Ranger Bobby Doherty was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a narcotics suspect in Argyle, Texas. As Ranger Doherty kicked in the door he was shot in the head and fatally wounded. The man who shot him was apprehended and sentenced to life. He was released on parole on May 25th, 2004. Ranger Doherty had served with the Texas Department of Public Safety for 20 years and had served as a Texas Ranger for 18 months.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-12392170
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.
Ranger Doherty gave the Texas Department of Public Safety 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the people of Texas. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Ranger Doherty.

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

Agency

Type Federal Agency
Location Austin, TX
Platform Identity tdpstrdps.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 21, 1978
Tour of Duty 20 yrs
Age 41
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

Ranger Bobby Paul Doherty 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 Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Rangers, 2 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Rangers
2
of 4 officers
50% 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. Bobby Paul Doherty's cause is highlighted.

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

How Bobby Paul Doherty Compares

Age at Death
41
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
20
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Bobby Paul Doherty is highlighted in Feb.

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. Bobby Paul Doherty was killed by handgun.

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

Others Who Wore This Badge

3 officers from Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Rangers are honored on badge.nw.