John R. Cramer
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

John R. Cramer

Felonious
End of Watch April 26, 1940
Age 55
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
The Vigil Panel 76 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff John Cramer was shot and killed by a prisoner one mile west of Clint, Texas. He had arrested the man for abusing a woman and was transporting him to a justice of the peace to obtain charges. The prisoner, who had not been handcuffed, suddenly pulled out a knife and stabbed Deputy Cramer in the abdomen several times before disarming him and fatally shooting him. His body was found in his car and his service revolver was missing. Three hours later the prisoner was shot and killed when he opened fire on officers attempting to arrest him. Deputy Cramer had served with the El Paso County Sheriff's Office for eight years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-7D982654
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.
Deputy Sheriff Cramer gave the El Paso County Sheriff's Office 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the El Paso community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Cramer.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location El Paso, El Paso County, TX
Platform Identity elpaso.elpaso.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 26, 1940
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
Age 55
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Officer's handgun

Deputy Sheriff John R. Cramer 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 County Sheriff's Office, 6 of 9 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.

El Paso County Sheriff's Office
6
of 9 officers
66.7% 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. John R. Cramer's cause is highlighted.

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

How John R. Cramer Compares

Age at Death
55
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
8
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John R. Cramer is highlighted in Apr.

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. John R. Cramer was killed by officer's handgun.

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

Incident Location