Harry Phoenix
Captain

Harry Phoenix

El Paso Police Department — El Paso, TX
Felonious
End of Watch June 13, 1921
Age 37
Tour of Duty 10 yrs
The Vigil Panel 41 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Captain Phoenix was shot and killed while he and two other officers questioned two suspicious men. When the officers attempted to arrest the men a gun battle ensued and Captain Phoenix shot in the head and killed instantly. Sergeant Schuyler Houston also sustained serious gunshot wounds in the shootout. Despite serious wounds and frequent trips to the hospital, Sergeant Houston remained with the police department and was promoted to captain. He eventually succumbed to the wounds on October 4, 1927. The two suspects fled to Mexico and were never apprehended. Captain Phoenix had served with the agency for 10 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and 12-year-old daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-04578DA3
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.
Captain Phoenix gave the El Paso Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the El Paso community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Captain Phoenix.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location El Paso, El Paso County, TX
Platform Identity eppd.elpaso.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 13, 1921
Tour of Duty 10 yrs
Age 37
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Captain Harry Phoenix 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 El Paso Police Department, 23 of 34 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 67.6% of this agency's fallen.

El Paso Police Department
23
of 34 officers
67.6% 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. Harry Phoenix's cause is highlighted.

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

How Harry Phoenix Compares

Age at Death
37
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
10
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Harry Phoenix 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. Harry Phoenix was killed by gun.

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