Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Frank Cantu was killed when his patrol car was struck by a drunk driver at the intersection of Dunlavy and West Gray Streets at 0220 hours.
The car driven by the drunk driver entered the intersection at a high rate of speed. The patrol car was struck on the rear, and left quarter panel, causing it to go airborne and land 40 feet away. Officer Cantu was extricated from the patrol car and transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital where he died a short time later.
The drunk driver refused to take a sobriety test and was charged with intoxicated manslaughter.
Officer Cantu had served with the Houston Police Department for 19 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his mother, father, brother, and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-09B2E583- 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.
Police Officer Cantu gave the Houston Police Department 19 years.
Thank you for your service to the Houston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Cantu.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Frank Manuel Cantu Jr. 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 Houston Police Department, 84 of 117 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 71.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Frank Manuel Cantu Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Frank Manuel Cantu Jr. Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Frank Manuel Cantu Jr. is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Frank Manuel Cantu Jr. was killed by automobile; alcohol involved.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
116 officers from Houston Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
