Roll of Honor
Herff Alexander Carnes
Incident
Inspector Herff Carnes succumbed to gunshot wounds he received on December 1, 1932, while attempting to apprehend suspected smugglers. Inspector Carnes and three other mounted inspectors received information from an informant of smugglers transporting illegal liquor across the Rio Grande River near Ysleta, about 13 miles downriver from El Paso. The agents were concealed so well that two smugglers in the advance guard started walking between them, creating a dangerous crossfire situation. Inspector Carnes rose and ordered the smugglers to surrender. One smuggler fired at him. The round struck his pistol, split it into two pieces, and then hit his abdomen. Inspector Carnes and the other inspectors returned fire, but the smugglers escaped into Mexico. Inspector Carnes was taken to a hospital in El Paso where he succumbed to his wounds three days later. He was survived by his wife and three children. He was buried in the Restlawn Cemetery in El Paso. Inspector Carnes was a legendary lawman along the Texas-Mexico border. His brother, Texas Ranger Private Quirl Carnes, had been shot and killed in the line of duty on July 31st, 1910. Another brother served as sheriff of Wilson County, Texas, from 1917 to 1937. Inspector Carnes joined the Texas Rangers in 1903 and rose to the rank of Sergeant. He resigned in 1911 and became a Mounted Inspector with the United States Customs Service. During his 29 years of policing the border, he was involved in numerous gun battles.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-19E27A07- 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
21 years. You could have gone home.
Inspector Carnes gave the United States Department of the Treasury 21 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Inspector Carnes.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Inspector Herff Alexander Carnes 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 DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service, 47 of 94 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Herff Alexander Carnes's cause is highlighted.
How Herff Alexander Carnes Compares
Offender Outcome
Escaped into Mexico
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Herff Alexander Carnes is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Herff Alexander Carnes was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
93 officers from United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
