Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Vernon Reaves was killed in a single-vehicle crash as he was returning from a court case in Gonzales. As his vehicle crossed the icy Peach Tree Bridge, it spun out of control and off an embankment, flipping over several times. Sheriff Reaves was thrown from the vehicle and killed instantly. His passenger was slightly injured. Sheriff Reaves was a United States Army WWII veteran and had served with the Lavaca County Sheriff's Office for two years. He was survived by his wife, mother, sister, and two brothers. .
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, mother, sister, and two brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-29BF9B32- 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.
Sheriff Reaves served with the Lavaca County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Hallettsville community, and 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
Vernon Reaves served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Sheriff Vernon Reaves is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In TX, 653 of 2,421 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 27% of this state's fallen. That is 4 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Lavaca County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 3 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Vernon Reaves's cause is highlighted.
How Vernon Reaves Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Vernon Reaves is highlighted in Jan.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Lavaca County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
