Roll of Honor
Incident
Officers Arp and Speed went to the home of Roger Q. Grace after they had received a report from G.C. McCain that Grace was involved in a hi-jacking.
McCain reported that Grace approached him and several other men and asked if they would help him start his car. When the men arrived at Grace’s car, two men with guns robbed them of $6-$8 and a .45 caliber pistol. Grace disappeared after the robbery and the officers went to his house to investigate. Officer Speed went to the front door and Officer Arp covered the back door. The house was dark and Officer Arp made contact with the suspect's wife, Maudie, but she refused him admittance. When Officer Arp attempted to enter, Maudie shot him in the abdomen. Someone returned fire but no one else was hit. Arp was transported to the hospital.
Roger Grace seized the gun from his wife and fled the scene. Both were arrested but released on a $7,500 bond. Maudie Grace alleged some men had come to her house the night before and threatened her husband for allegedly being in a whiskey robbery. She alleged that she believed that Arp and Speed were the same men. The district attorney filed murder charges on Roger and Maudie Grace. On February 15, 1926 murder charges were dismissed because no witnesses were located.
Although the newspaper reported that Arp would recover, he died from his wounds on January 10, 1924. He is buried in the Oakwood Cemetery in Corsicana.
Rest in peace Arp.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis January 10th, 2024
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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.
Police Officer Arp served with the Corsicana Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Corsicana community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Arp.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Vess Arp 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 Corsicana Police Department, 3 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Vess Arp's cause is highlighted.
How Vess Arp Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Vess Arp is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Vess Arp was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Corsicana Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
