Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Lester Tatum was killed in a vehicle crash while responding to a burglary in progress call.
The reporting party told the 911 operator that weapons were involved, and a woman was alone with two young children.
Deputy Tatum left Groveton for Carlisle with his lights and his siren activated, heading south on FM 355. As he entered a right-hand curve near Old Onalaska Road, his squad car left the road on the left-hand side. The car struck several pine trees, and the engine compartment caught fire. The fire was put out by members of the Groveton Volunteer Fire Department. Deputy Tatum died at the scene.
Deputy Tatum was the canine handler for Trinity County and had served with the Trinity County Sheriff's Office for only seven months. He had previously served with the Polk County Precinct 1 Constable's Office and had a total of 15 years of law enforcement service.
Deputy Tatum had served with the Trinity County Sheriff's Office for 15 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, two daughters, parents, and two grandchildren.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-E4712D9E- 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 Tatum gave the Trinity County Sheriff's Office 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Groveton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Tatum.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Lester Dewayne Tatum is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In TX, 653 of 2,421 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 27% of this state's fallen. That is 4 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Trinity County Sheriff's Dept., 3 of 5 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Lester Dewayne Tatum's cause is highlighted.
How Lester Dewayne Tatum Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Lester Dewayne Tatum is highlighted in Dec.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Trinity County Sheriff's Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
