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Police Officer

Eldridge C. Cornelius

Simonton Police Department — Simonton, TX

Felonious

End of Watch June 21, 1929

Age 58

The Vigil Panel 57 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Police Officer Eldridge Cornelius was shot and killed while responding to a disturbance call.

He was attempting to arrest two men at the scene when one of them produced a handgun and shot him in the abdomen. The suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. His sentence was later commuted to life. He was released in 1940.

Officer Cornelius was survived by his wife and five children.

Survivors

Officer Cornelius was survived by his wife and five children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-17A489E4
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.
Police Officer Cornelius served with the Simonton Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Simonton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Cornelius.

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

Agency

Department Simonton Police Department

Location Simonton, TX

Platform Identity spd.fortbend.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 21, 1929

Age 58

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Offender Released in 1940

Police Officer Eldridge C. Cornelius 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%.

Simonton 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. Eldridge C. Cornelius'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 Eldridge C. Cornelius Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Released in 1940

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Eldridge C. Cornelius is highlighted in Jun.

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. Eldridge C. Cornelius was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518