Roll of Honor
John Phillip Barber
Incident
Location: Texas Weapon: Gun; Unknown type Offender: Paroled in 1957
Special Officer John P. Barber responded to a disturbance on a city transit bus.
The bus driver identified a female as causing the disturbance and she was arrested by Officer Barber. As the officer was escorting the prisoner from the scene a crowd gathered and started throwing rocks at the officer. Officer Barber was then shot by a male suspect as the female prisoner escaped. The man was arrested.
On January 3, 1946, the suspect, 26, was convicted of murder with malice and sentenced to 5 years to life. He was paroled on April 18, 1957.
The female prisoner was arrested and charged with disturbing the peace and aggravated assault on a police officer. No disposition was found on her case. Another man was convicted of causing a riot but his case was reversed on appeal.
Officer Barber was survived by his wife and one son. He was buried in Laurel Land Memorial Park Cemetery in Dallas.
Survivors
Officer Barber was survived by his wife and one son.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-RR-C8C04735- Stewardship
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- 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.
Special Officer Barber served with the Dallas Terminal Railway Company Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Dallas community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Officer Barber.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Officer John Phillip Barber is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,587 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 6.4 percentage points above the national rate of 53.9%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Phillip Barber's cause is highlighted.
How John Phillip Barber Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Phillip Barber is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Phillip Barber was killed by gun; unknown type.