Milford James Merrifield
Incident
Special Agent Milford Merrifield drowned in the Mississippi River near Gretna, Louisiana, when the boat he was in sprung a leak and sank.
He was patrolling railroad property on both sides of the river and requested two other Texas and Pacific employees take him across the river in a skiff. The skiff developed a leak several hundred feet from shore and sank. The other two employees were able to swim to safety, but Special Agent Merrifield was caught in the current and pulled downstream. His body was recovered several days later.
Special Agent Merrifield was a U.S. Army veteran of WWI.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, father, and two sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-BDB5EE5E- 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 Milford. 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
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.
Special Agent Merrifield served with the Texas and Pacific Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Fort Worth community. Thank you 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
Milford James Merrifield served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Special Agent Milford James Merrifield 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 Texas and Pacific Railroad Police Department, 4 of 6 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Milford James Merrifield's cause is highlighted.
How Milford James Merrifield Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Milford James Merrifield is highlighted in Oct.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Texas and Pacific Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw.

