Roll of Honor
Fred Tate
Incident
Inspector Fred Tate was shot and killed while he and two other inspectors were patrolling for smugglers along the Rio Grande River in Brownsville, Cameron County, Texas. A wagon containing 1,000 pounds of lard that was to be smuggled into Mexico across the Rio Grande River was being driven by two subjects. A smuggler from Mexico was driving a buggy that was preceding the wagon. As the headlights from the officers' vehicle shined on the wagon, the man in the buggy escaped into a pasture. By the time the car could be brought to a halt and turned around, the woman and the man had jumped from the seat and crawled through a fence, where they were joined by the driver of the buggy. The shot that killed Inspector Tate was fired as he stepped from the car to the ground, six or seven shots were then fired at the other officers, who returned that fire. The two men and the woman escaped in the darkness. After unloading the illegal cargo from the wagon, the horses were turned loose and walked to a house near the freight depot. The Cameron County sheriff and his deputies surrounded the house. A buggy approached the house with a man and woman in it. When the officers stepped from hiding and ordered the couple to halt, the man who was driving the buggy fumbled towards his belt and a deputy shot and killed him. The woman was arrested and was charged with the murder of Inspector Tate. Several other men were later arrested and charged with conspiracy to smuggle contraband into the United States. It is unknown whether the woman or anyone else was ever prosecuted for the murder. Inspector Tate had served with the United States Customs Service for about 30 years. He had also served with the Texas Rangers and with the LaGrange Police Department. He was survived by his wife and three children. His body was shipped to Flatonia for burial.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-CF9BF4A2- 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
30 years. You could have gone home.
Inspector Tate gave the United States Department of the Treasury 30 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Inspector Tate.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Inspector Fred Tate 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. Fred Tate's cause is highlighted.
How Fred Tate Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Fred Tate is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Fred Tate 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.
