Roll of Honor

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Special Officer

William W. Garrett

Fort Worth and Denver Railroad Police Department — Wichita Falls, TX

Felonious

End of Watch September 12, 1927

Age 48

The Vigil Panel 53 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Location: Texas Incident Date: Saturday, September 10, 1927 Weapon: Automobile Offender: Apprehended

Special Officer William Garrett succumbed to injuries sustained two days earlier when he was struck by a hit-and-run driver at 7th and Lee Streets, in Wichita Falls, Texas, while directing traffic away from a train that was unloading circus animals.

The driver of the vehicle fled the scene but was later arrested and charged with failure to stop and render aid.

Officer Garrett had served with the Fort Worth and Denver Railroad Police for several years and had previously served as sheriff in Hartley County.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, parents, four brothers, and two sisters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-RR-CB3BBA41
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.
Special Officer Garrett served with the Fort Worth and Denver Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Wichita Falls community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Officer Garrett.

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

Agency

Department Fort Worth and Denver Railroad Police Department

Location Wichita Falls, TX

Platform Identity fwdrpd.rr.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 12, 1927

Age 48

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Vehicular assault

Weapon Automobile

Offender Apprehended

Special Officer William W. Garrett 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%.

Fort Worth and Denver Railroad Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

TX — Statewide

1,463

of 2,421 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William W. Garrett's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How William W. Garrett Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Apprehended

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William W. Garrett is highlighted in Sep.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William W. Garrett was killed by automobile.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518