Walter Q. Eckert Jr.

Travis County Sheriff's Department — Austin, TX

Veteran → Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch June 4, 1975

Age 52

The Vigil Panel 115 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 7

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Walter Eckert succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained on February 1, 1967, while attempting to serve a warrant. At 9:30 a.m., Deputy Eckert and Deputy Sheriff Benny Berry entered the man's residence at 7401 Grover Avenue in Austin after being told by a neighbor that the man was inside the home. The suspect opened fire on the deputies with an M-1 carbine, mortally wounding Deputy Berry in the chest and Deputy Eckert in the hip and calf. Deputy Eckert returned fire but did not strike the shooter as he fled the house. Deputy Eckert went to the house next door for back-up. The suspect, who was on federal probation, was arrested and sentenced to 99 years in prison, but was released after serving only 13 years. Deputy Eckert was transported to Brackenridge Hospital. Due to his wounds, he was medically retired. He succumbed to his wounds eight years later on June 4, 1975. Deputy Eckert was a United States Army Air Forces WWII veteran.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, three daughters, a son, and seven grandchildren.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-A1D93A10
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 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 Eckert served with the Travis County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Austin 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

Department Travis County Sheriff's Department

Type Other

Location Austin, Travis County, TX

Platform Identity tcso.travis.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 4, 1975

Age 52

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle

Military Service

Walter Q. Eckert Jr. served in the U.S. Army (1942â1945) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Deputy Sheriff Walter Q. Eckert Jr. 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 97,759 officers honored here.

In TX, 1,460 of 2,421 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 Travis County Sheriff's Department, 6 of 8 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.

Travis County Sheriff's Department

of 8 officers

75% Felonious

TX — Statewide

1,460

of 2,421 officers

60.3% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious