Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Ernest Bates succumbed to injures received four months earlier when he was struck by a city bus. He was directing traffic at the intersection of Elm Street and Akard Street and was attempting to get out of the way of a car when he jumped in front of the bus. Officer Bates suffered severe back injuries but was able to return to light duty after three weeks. Two months later, although still in great pain, he returned to full duty directing traffic in the same intersection. On the evening of December 5, 1942, he collapsed while directing traffic and was rushed to a local hospital. He died while in surgery as doctors attempted to correct injuries from the original accident. Officer Bates had served with the Dallas Police Department for six years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-9B8571A5- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Bates gave the Dallas Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Dallas community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Bates.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer Ernest Elmer Bates is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In TX, 653 of 2,421 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 27% of this state's fallen. That is 4 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Dallas Police Department, 30 of 95 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 31.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ernest Elmer Bates's cause is highlighted.
How Ernest Elmer Bates Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Ernest Elmer Bates is highlighted in Dec.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
94 officers from Dallas Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
