Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy William Zak suffered a fatal heart attack after breaking up a fight and attempting to arrest the participants.
He was working a secondary employment job at a nightclub when he was informed of a fight in progress. He responded with another deputy and broke up the fight but collapsed immediately afterward and died at the scene.
The subject involved was charged with public intoxication and disorderly conduct.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-CCFC7EF1- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew William. Claim this record.
Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Air Force. One record, 2 gates. William is one person.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Zak gave the Bell County Sheriff's Office 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Belton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Zak.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
William Jerold Zak served in the U.S. Air Force (1968â1972) before joining law enforcement.
Deputy Sheriff William Jerold Zak is one of 1 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In TX, 88 of 2,422 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 3.6% of this state's fallen. That is 3.6 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Bell County Sheriff's Department, 1 of 6 officers on record were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 16.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Cardiac compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Jerold Zak's cause is highlighted.
How William Jerold Zak Compares
When Cardiac Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Cardiac deaths across the full memorial record. William Jerold Zak is highlighted in Jul.
Military Service
William Jerold Zak served in the U.S. Air Force (1968–1972) before joining law enforcement.
Visit William Jerold Zak’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Bell County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
