Roll of Honor
Incident
Captain John Denton was shot and killed while he and other Texas Rangers searched for Native Americans who had raided several settler outposts in Tarrant County.
They were maneuvering up a creek when they were ambushed. Captain Denton was struck several times and killed.
Captain Denton was survived by his wife and six children.
Survivors
Captain Denton was survived by his wife and six children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-7C5324E7- 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
185 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Captain Denton served with the Texas Rangers.
Thank you for your service to the Austin community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Captain John B. Denton 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 Texas Rangers, 104 of 122 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 85.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John B. Denton's cause is highlighted.
How John B. Denton Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John B. Denton is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John B. Denton was killed by rifle.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
121 officers from Texas Rangers are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
