Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Thad West was shot and killed while investigating reports of a couple attempting to sell a 4-month-old baby at 511 North Dotsy Avenue.
When Deputy West arrived at the apartment, the male subject opened the door and immediately began firing, fatally wounding him. The subject fled but was later shot and killed when officers attempted to arrest him.
Deputy West had only served with the Ector County Sheriff's Office for one month. He had previously served with the Odessa Police Department for 4-1/2 years and as a U.S. Army military policeman for 4-1/2 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and three daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-0FE7CB2A- 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.
Deputy Sheriff West gave the Ector County Sheriff's Office 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Odessa 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
Thad Dewitt West served in the Army (1941â1945) before joining law enforcement.
Deputy Sheriff Thad Dewitt West 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thad Dewitt West's cause is highlighted.
How Thad Dewitt West Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thad Dewitt West is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Thad Dewitt West was killed by handgun; .38 caliber.