David L. Anderson
Agency patch
Sheriff

David L. Anderson

Felonious
End of Watch June 4, 1918
Age 57
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
The Vigil Panel 34 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sheriff Doc Anderson was shot and killed when he responded to a disturbance call at a saloon in Sanderson.

He was warned that a suspect inside was armed, but the sheriff did not think the man was a threat. As he entered the saloon, the suspect shot him three times, killing him. The suspect was shot and killed a few minutes later by a constable when he stepped outside.

Sheriff Anderson had been with the Terrell County Sheriff's Office for three years and had also served as a U.S. Customs inspector.

Sheriff Doc Anderson was shot and killed when he responded to a disturbance call at a saloon in Sanderson.

The Terrell County Heritage Museum would like to honor the memory of one our own. He was the second sheriff of Terrell County, and he was already a legendary figure who had been a Regulator Rider during the Lincoln County Wars.

Museum Director, Jerry Brotherton Terrell County Heritage Museum August 20th, 2025

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-938B647E
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 David. 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.
Sheriff Anderson gave the Terrell County Sheriff's Office 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Sanderson community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Anderson.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Sanderson, Terrell County, TX
Platform Identity tcso.terrell.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 4, 1918
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Age 57
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Sheriff David L. Anderson 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%.

Terrell County Sheriff's Office
1
of 1 officers
100% 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. David L. Anderson's cause is highlighted.

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

How David L. Anderson Compares

Age at Death
57
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
3
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. David L. Anderson is highlighted in Jun.

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. David L. Anderson was killed by gun; unknown type.

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

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from Terrell County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.