Jerry Wayne Cawthon

Amarillo Police Dept. — Amarillo, TX

Felonious

End of Watch January 1, 1964

Age 24

The Vigil Panel 99 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 15

Incident

Patrolman Cawthon was shot and killed following a vehicle pursuit of a juvenile who ran a red light. The suspect finally stopped at his home and ran to the back door, where Patrolman Cawthon apprehended him. During the struggle, the juvenile's brother and a friend came to his aid and began to argue with the officer. The friend, who was standing behind Patrolman Cawthon, grabbed his service weapon as he spun him around, then shot him in the mouth. The suspect was apprehended on the scene and was sentenced to ten years in prison.

Survivors

Patrolman Cawthon was survived by his wife, son, and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-1D2BE0BB
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.
Patrolman Cawthon served with the Amarillo Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Amarillo community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Cawthon.

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

Agency

Department Amarillo Police Dept.

Location Amarillo, TX

Platform Identity apd.potter.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 1, 1964

Age 24

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Sentenced to 10 years

Patrolman Jerry Wayne Cawthon 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 Amarillo Police Dept., 10 of 16 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.5% of this agency's fallen.

Amarillo Police Dept.

of 16 officers

62.5% Felonious

TX — Statewide

1,463

of 2,421 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious