William Edwin "Ponce" DeLeon

Houston Police Department — Houston, TX

Felonious

End of Watch March 29, 1982

Age 35

Tour of Duty 13 yrs 5 mo

Badge 2280

The Vigil Panel 125 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 116

Incident

Police Officer William DeLeon was struck and killed by a speeding motorist while working on traffic patrol on the Southwest Freeway. At 8:30 p.m. Officer DeLeon was working radar in the 1300 block of the Southwest Freeway. His partner was passed by a vehicle exceeding 87 mph, and he radioed Officer DeLeon to clock the car on the radar. Before his partner could activate his red lights, the vehicle swerved into Officer DeLeon and his police motorcycle. Officer DeLeon died at the scene. The driver was stopped 3/10ths of a mile from the scene. The driver was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and failure to stop and render aid and sentenced to nine years in prison. Earlier in the day, around 7:15 a.m. Houston Police Department Officer, Winston J. Rawlins, was working freeway patrol when he was struck by a truck during a traffic stop and pinned under a vehicle. The vehicle caught fire, and Officer Rawlins was burned to death. Officer DeLeon had served with the Houston Police Department for 13 years. He was survived by his wife, two children, two step-children, his parents, a sister, and a brother. He was buried in the Field of Honor at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery in Houston, Texas.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two children, two step-children, his parents, a sister, and a brother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-A00C1DA0
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer DeLeon gave the Houston Police Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Houston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer DeLeon.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Houston Police Department

Location Houston, TX

Platform Identity hpd.harris.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 29, 1982

Tour of Duty 13 yrs 5 mo

Age 35

Badge Number 2280

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Automobile; Alcohol involved

Offender Sentenced to ten years

Police Officer William Edwin "Ponce" DeLeon 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%.

At Houston Police Department, 84 of 117 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 71.8% of this agency's fallen.

Houston Police Department

of 117 officers

71.8% Felonious

TX — Statewide

1,463

of 2,421 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious