Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Coy Vandiver was accidentally shot and killed as he and another officer were attempting to subdue a drunk suspect on the Tehuacana Highway in the west part of the city. The prisoner refused to throw up his hands and Patrolman Vandiver struck the suspect on the head with the butt of his single action revolver.
The revolver discharged and the bullet struck Patrolman Vandiver and severed an artery. The bullet entered his right side about three inches below his right breast and passed through his liver. He was transported to Mexia General Hospital where he died at 7:10 p.m. The newspaper reported that Vandiver had been an officer for only a few days.
Patrolman Vandiver was survived by his wife and children three children. Burial was in the Oakwood Cemetery in Waco. During WWII, one of his sons joined the U.S. Navy and was killed in action on October 1, 1944 at age 23.
Survivors
Patrolman Vandiver was survived by his wife and children three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-1EEB3259- 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 Coy. 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.
Patrolman Vandiver served with the Mexia Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Mexia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Vandiver.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Coy Carter Vandiver Sr. is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In TX, 657 of 2,422 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 27.1% of this state's fallen. That is 27.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Mexia Police Department, 1 of 4 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 25% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Coy Carter Vandiver Sr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Coy Carter Vandiver Sr. Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Coy Carter Vandiver Sr. is highlighted in Apr.
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Mexia Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
