Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Candelario Ortiz was shot and killed after he and another deputy were abducted by a weapons-smuggling group from Mexico. He and three officers went to investigate a claim that the group of men were smuggling guns into the county. A scout group intercepted the two deputies and took them back to their camp and tied them up. The sheriff and a city marshal were then fired upon as they approached. When the group retreated they tied the two deputies' hands behind their backs and packed them with the guns and ammunition. After walking several miles Deputy Ortiz was unable to climb a hill loaded with the equipment and the suspects shot and killed him. The group was captured a few days later near the Rio Grande River after a shootout with Texas Rangers and members of the U.S. Army. Two were killed and 16 others were taken into custody. 14 were charged in connection with Deputy Ortiz's murder. 13 were convicted of murder. Four were sentenced to life and the others were sentenced to prison terms ranging from six to 25 years. Of the four sentenced to life escaped a year later from the Texas Penitentiary and was never recaptured. Two others were pardoned by Governor Miriam A. Ferguson on August 21, 1926. One who was sentenced to 15 years was killed in prison August 20, 1916.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-56E3E43C- 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 Ortiz served with the Dimmit County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Carrizo Springs community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Ortiz.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Candelario Ortiz 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 Dimmit County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Candelario Ortiz's cause is highlighted.
How Candelario Ortiz Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Candelario Ortiz is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Candelario Ortiz was killed by rifle.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Dimmit County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
