Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Willie Phares and Officer Edward Fitzgerald were shot and killed at the intersection of Anita Avenue and Milam Street by one of two men as they approached their car to question them about a robbery that had occurred several hours earlier at a furniture store. Officer Phares was transported to the hospital, where he remained until succumbing to his wounds ten days later. The suspects were captured a short time later. The gunman was sentenced to death and executed in the electric chair on November 28, 1930. Officer Phares had served with the Houston Police Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, infant son, parents, and two brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-02300B7F- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Phares served with the Houston Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Houston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Phares.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer William Bonner Phares 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 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Bonner Phares's cause is highlighted.
How William Bonner Phares Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Bonner Phares is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Bonner Phares was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
116 officers from Houston Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
