Roll of Honor
John Wesley Etheridge
Incident
Location: Texas Weapon: Gun; Unknown type Offender: Sentenced to 10 years
Special Officer John Etheridge was shot and killed at the railroad station in Troup, Texas, while attempting to quell a disturbance.
Officer Etheridge was on duty aboard a special excursion train when one of the passengers became disorderly. When the train arrived at the station the man and Officer Etheridge got off of it and went into the waiting room where the shooting occurred.
The subject who shot him Officer Etheridge was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 10 years in prison. He was released after serving only eight years.
Officer Etheridge had served with the International and Great Northern Railroad Police Department for six years and had previously served as a deputy sheriff and constable in Harrison County.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and six children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-D3D26D52- 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 Etheridge gave the International and Great Northern Railroad Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Palestine community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Officer Etheridge.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Officer John Wesley Etheridge 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%.
At International and Great Northern Railroad Police Department, 1 of 2 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. John Wesley Etheridge's cause is highlighted.
How John Wesley Etheridge Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 10 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Wesley Etheridge is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Wesley Etheridge was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from International and Great Northern Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
