Norman Edward Zator

Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Highway Patrol — Austin, TX

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch October 6, 1969

Age 25

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

The Vigil Panel 106 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 94

Incident

Patrolman Norman Zator was shot and killed after stopping a vehicle for a traffic violation near La Marque. At 10:30 p.m., Patrolman Zator radioed the La Marque Police Department that he was stopping a vehicle for weaving at Texas 146 and Texas 3. Unknown to him, the car had been stolen earlier from a hospital parking lot in Houston. At 10:40 p.m., Patrolman Zator was found beside his patrol car with his service revolver in his hand and his patrol car still running. One shot had been fired. Two suspects, 20 and 25, who fled on foot, were apprehended the next day at a tin smelter in Texas City. The oldest, also the gunman, had a gunshot wound in his arm. On May 11, 1970, both were convicted of murder and each was sentenced to 99 years. Patrolman Zator was a United States Army veteran and had served with the Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Highway Patrol for three years, stationed at La Marque.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife parents, and brother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-7F9282FD
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 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.
Patrolman Zator gave the Texas Department of Public Safety 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Texas, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Highway Patrol

Location Austin, TX

Platform Identity tdpsthp.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 6, 1969

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Age 25

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Sentenced to 99 years

Military Service

Norman Edward Zator served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Patrolman Norman Edward Zator 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 Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Highway Patrol, 35 of 95 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 36.8% of this agency's fallen.

Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Highway Patrol

of 95 officers

36.8% Felonious

TX — Statewide

1,463

of 2,421 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious