John D. Nichols Jr.

Fort Worth Police Department — Fort Worth, TX

Felonious

End of Watch December 22, 1906

Age 43

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

The Vigil Panel 21 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 58

Incident

Special Officer Nichols was shot and killed while investigating a disturbance at a local theater concerning the price of a ticket.

While talking to the customer, the man pulled out a handgun and struck Officer Nichols on the head. As Officer Nichols fell, the suspect began firing, striking him. Officer Nichols was able to return fire, causing a fatal wound to the suspect. Officer Nichols was transported to a local hospital, where he died.

Officer Nichols had served with the Fort Worth Police Department for two years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-4422E849
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.
Special Officer Nichols gave the Fort Worth Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Fort Worth community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Officer Nichols.

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

Agency

Department Fort Worth Police Department

Type Other

Location Fort Worth, TX

Platform Identity fwpd.tarrant.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 22, 1906

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Age 43

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Special Officer John D. Nichols Jr. 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 Fort Worth Police Department, 33 of 59 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55.9% of this agency's fallen.

Fort Worth Police Department

of 59 officers

55.9% Felonious

TX — Statewide

1,461

of 2,422 officers

60.3% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious