Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Jessie English was shot and killed as he attempted to arrest two men who had escaped from the Ferguson State Prison Farm.
Deputy English, along with the Houston County sheriff and Grapeland city marshal, had received word the men would be in the area and began searching for them. Deputy English encountered the men along a dirt road at approximately 11:00 p.m. After ordering them to stop three times, one of the men opened fire with a shotgun, striking Deputy English in the head. He died from his wounds approximately 7 hours later.
Both men were apprehended after the shooting. On November 4, 1923, the suspect, 29, who shot Deputy English was sentenced to 99 years in prison. He escaped from Ramsey Prison Farm on May 15, 1932.
Deputy English was survived by his wife and three children.
Survivors
Deputy English was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-BC4DC193- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff English served with the Houston County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Crockett community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff English.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Jesse L. English 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 97,756 officers honored here.
In TX, 1,460 of 2,421 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 County Sheriff's Department, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Jesse L. English's cause is highlighted.
How Jesse L. English Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jesse L. English is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Jesse L. English was killed by shotgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Houston County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
