Roll of Honor
Incident
Game Warden Michael Pauling was killed after being dragged alongside a vehicle that sped away as he was talking to the driver at about 12:30 am.
He had stopped to investigate a couple who were involved in a domestic disturbance in a vehicle on the shoulder of Highway 73, between Highway 82 and Savannah Avenue, in Port Arthur. Warden Pauling had the female participant wait in his department pickup truck while he returned to the vehicle to check on the welfare of the woman's children. The male suddenly sped away, dragging Warden Pauling alongside the vehicle.
The female participant, driving Warden Pauling's vehicle, then began following the car dragging him. When Warden Pauling fell from the vehicle he was struck by the female participant, who had called 911 on her cell phone reporting the incident. The male subject turned himself in and was charged with capital murder.
On September 20th, 2002, the 32-year-old subject was sentenced to 55 years and fined $10,000 for Warden Pauling's murder. He will be eligible for parole on July 10, 2029.
Warden Pauling was a U.S. Army veteran and had served with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for five years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, two sons, and parents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-F3C87755- 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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. Michael is one person.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Game Warden Pauling gave the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Austin community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Michael Charles Pauling served in the U.S. Army (1976â1988) before joining law enforcement.
Game Warden Michael Charles Pauling 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 97,759 officers honored here.
In TX, 1,460 of 2,421 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 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Law Enforcement Division, 4 of 14 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 28.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Michael Charles Pauling's cause is highlighted.
How Michael Charles Pauling Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Michael Charles Pauling is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Michael Charles Pauling was killed by automobile.
Incident Location
Military Service
Michael Charles Pauling served in the U.S. Army (1976–1988) before joining law enforcement.
Visit Michael Charles Pauling’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
13 officers from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Law Enforcement Division are honored on badge.nw.
