Roll of Honor
Rollin Culberson Nichols
Incident
Inspector Rollin Nicholas succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained four days earlier while searching for liquor smugglers in El Paso, Texas. On Friday, November 24th, 1933, he and two other mounted inspectors went to the foot of Glenwood Drive in El Paso to search for liquor smugglers. The inspectors had seized $1,000 worth of illegal liquor one week earlier near San Elizario in El Paso County. As Inspector Nichols got out of his automobile, near a parked car believed to belong to the liquor runners, a smuggler fired at his face with a shotgun loaded with buckshot. Three of the buckshot lodged in his brain. The two other inspectors dragged him behind a river levee. More than 100 shots were exchanged between the two inspectors and an estimated 15 smugglers. They later reported that they believed they were led into a trap because of the San Elizario seizure. Inspector Nichols was unconscious and paralyzed when he was taken to the hospital. He died at 9:05 a.m. on November 28th, 1933. He was survived by his wife, daughter, father, and sister. He was buried in Kenedy, Karnes County, Texas.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, daughter, father, and sister.
In Our Keeping
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- 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.
Inspector Nichols gave the United States Department of the Treasury 5 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Inspector Nichols.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Inspector Rollin Culberson Nichols 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 DC, 754 of 1,418 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.2% of this state's fallen. That is 53.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service, 47 of 94 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Rollin Culberson Nichols's cause is highlighted.
How Rollin Culberson Nichols Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Rollin Culberson Nichols is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Rollin Culberson Nichols was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
93 officers from United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
