Roll of Honor
Ernest Valencia Mendoza
Incident
Chief of Police Ernest Mendoza was killed when his patrol car was struck head-on by a drunk driver on FM 1301 in Wharton County.
The truck driven by the drunk driver veered into the opposite lane, causing the collision. Chief Mendoza was killed instantly upon impact.
The drunk driver who caused the crash fled on foot but was apprehended by a deputy sheriff a short time later. The man was charged with felony murder and failure to stop and render aid. The driver had four previous DUI convictions. He was subsequently sentenced to 90 years in prison.
Chief Mendoza had served with the Needville ISD Police Department for 10 years and a total of 25 years law enforcement service.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and seven children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-5A50E363- 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
25 years. You could have gone home.
Chief of Police Mendoza gave the Needville Independent School District Police Department 25 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Needville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Mendoza.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police Ernest Valencia Mendoza 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ernest Valencia Mendoza's cause is highlighted.
How Ernest Valencia Mendoza Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ernest Valencia Mendoza is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ernest Valencia Mendoza was killed by automobile; alcohol involved.
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Needville Independent School District Police Department are honored on badge.nw.