Paul Aaron Emerson Sr.
Agency patch
Officer

Paul Aaron Emerson Sr.

Port Arthur Police Department — Port Arthur, TX
Felonious
End of Watch August 3, 1967
Age 37
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
The Vigil Panel 102 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Paul Emerson was shot and killed when he and his partner surprised a burglar at a local business. When officers noticed the subject fleeing a closed business, they initiated a foot pursuit. The subject turned around and fired at the officers, striking Officer Emerson in the neck. His partner was able to apprehend the suspect and arrest him. The suspect was later convicted of murder with malice and sentenced to life. Officer Emerson had served with the Port Arthur Police Department for five years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-5C0364B3
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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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Emerson gave the Port Arthur Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Port Arthur community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Emerson.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Port Arthur, Jefferson County, TX
Platform Identity papd.jefferson.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 3, 1967
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Age 37
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Officer Paul Aaron Emerson Sr. 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 97,772 officers honored here.

In TX, 1,461 of 2,422 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 Port Arthur Police Department, 6 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 85.7% of this agency's fallen.

Port Arthur Police Department
6
of 7 officers
85.7% Felonious
TX — Statewide
1,461
of 2,422 officers
60.3% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Paul Aaron Emerson Sr.'s cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Paul Aaron Emerson Sr. Compares

Age at Death
37
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
5
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Paul Aaron Emerson Sr. is highlighted in Aug.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Paul Aaron Emerson Sr. was killed by gun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909