Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff John Risley was shot and killed after responding to a disturbance call at a home near FM 2920 and Calvert Road in a rural section of the county near Tomball.
A person at the residence reported that his elderly neighbor had appeared at their home with a shotgun, claiming that they were in the mafia. Deputy Risley arrived on the scene and had requested backup before he was shot and killed by the suspect.
Deputy Risley's backup arrived and asked the suspect where Deputy Risley was. The suspect pointed in the direction where Deputy Risley's body lay, then pointed his shotgun at the second deputy. The deputy shot and killed the suspect.
Deputy Risley had served with the Harris County Sheriff's Office for 10 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-B9FA548E- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Risley gave the Harris County Sheriff's Office 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Houston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Risley.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff John Charles Risley 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 Harris County Sheriff's Office, 23 of 56 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 41.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Charles Risley's cause is highlighted.
How John Charles Risley Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Charles Risley is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
55 officers from Harris County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
