Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Van Wells was stabbed to death by a drunken man he was attempting to arrest. He was walking back from Arsenal and South Main Streets when he came across the man lying on the ground and tried to arrest him.
Survivors
Patrolman Wells was survived by his wife, son, and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-A21E9913- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Van. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
159 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman Wells 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 Van Ness Wells 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 San Antonio Police Department, 40 of 64 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Van Ness Wells's cause is highlighted.
How Van Ness Wells Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Van Ness Wells is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Van Ness Wells was killed by edged weapon.
Others Who Wore This Badge
63 officers from San Antonio Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
