Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff John York was killed when a man he removed from a water line ambushed him and stabbed him at 100 West Belknap Street.
The town was in the middle of a drought and Sheriff York was attempting to maintain order. The citizens of the town would line up for their water ration. When the suspect became disorderly Sheriff York removed him from the line. The man later stabbed Sheriff York to death in an act of revenge.
Sheriff York was able to shoot and kill the suspect before he died.
Sheriff York had served with the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office for 11 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-5CF705A5- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew John. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
165 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Sheriff York gave the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Fort Worth community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff John B. York 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 Tarrant County Sheriff's Office, 5 of 12 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 41.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John B. York's cause is highlighted.
How John B. York Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and Killed by Sheriff York
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John B. York is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John B. York was killed by edged weapon; knife.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
11 officers from Tarrant County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
