Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Solomon White died as the result of contracting rabies after being bitten by a rabid dog on July 19th, 1873.
The large dog had attacked several animals as it ran down Main Street (modern-day Commerce Street). Patrolman Solomon was patrolling in the area of Main Plaza when several citizens told him about the dog. As the dog appeared at Main Plaza Patrolman Solomon recognized the symptoms of rabies and shot at the dog but did not strike it. He followed the dog toward Military Plaza and across San Pedro Creek, firing several more times but not striking it. When the dog stopped on the other side of the creek Patrolman White approached it to shoot it at close range.
The dog suddenly lunged at Patrolman White and inflicted a severe bite on his hand. Patrolman White contracted rabies and his condition worsened over the next two months. He died on September 24, 1873.
Patrolman White was the first black police officer to die in the line of duty while serving with the San Antonio Police Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, who was murdered by her new common-law husband in 1876.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-TX-CD1B5A8B- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
153 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman White served with the San Antonio Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the San Antonio community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Solomon White is one of 1 officers lost to illness connected to their service across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 officers honored here.
In TX, 204 of 2,421 officers were lost to illness connected to their service — 8.4% of this state's fallen. That is 8.4 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At San Antonio Police Department, 2 of 64 officers on record were lost to illness connected to their service — 3.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Illness compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Solomon White's cause is highlighted.
How Solomon White Compares
When Illness Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Illness deaths across the full memorial record. Solomon White is highlighted in Sep.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
63 officers from San Antonio Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
