Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Pauley was shot and killed after being called to the railroad yard to assist in apprehending two men who were riding on top of a freight car. The men had boarded the train at Brownwood, Texas, and refused the conductor's order to leave. When the train stopped in Santa Anna the conductor telegraphed ahead to Coleman to ask for the sheriff to meet him when the train arrived. As Sheriff Pauley climbed the ladder he was shot by one of the suspects. He succumbed to his wounds two days later. The suspects were later captured by a posse of over 1000 men. On June 3, 1925, Sheriff Pauley's killer, 23, was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. On April 16, 1926, he went to his death in the electric chair.
Survivors
Sheriff Pauley was survived by his wife and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-12FA6FF8- 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.
Sheriff Pauley served with the Coleman County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Coleman community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Pauley.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Richard Allen Pauley 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 Coleman County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Richard Allen Pauley's cause is highlighted.
How Richard Allen Pauley Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1926
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Richard Allen Pauley is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Richard Allen Pauley was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Coleman County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
