Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective John Reifel succumbed to gunshot wounds he received while questioning a homicide suspect on 26th Street near L Street in Galveston. The subject had robbed a liquor store and shot and killed the store clerk on the night of June 1st. In the early morning of June 2nd, Detective Reifel and his partner located the man and began questioning him when the man suddenly produced a gun and shot them both. Another responding officer was able to shoot the suspect with a non-life-threatening wound and apprehend him. Detective Reifel was shot in the arm and stomach and succumbed to his wounds three days later. The other detective survived his wound. The subject was convicted for the murder of the clerk and executed in 1952. Detective Reifel had served with the Galveston Police Department for eight years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-C4607348- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Reifel gave the Galveston Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Galveston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Reifel.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective John Reifel is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Galveston Police Department, 10 of 19 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 52.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Reifel's cause is highlighted.
How John Reifel Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Reifel is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Reifel was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
18 officers from Galveston Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
