Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Coy Vandiver was accidentally shot and killed as he and another officer were attempting to subdue a drunk suspect on the Tehuacana Highway in the west part of the city. The prisoner refused to throw up his hands and Patrolman Vandiver struck the suspect on the head with the butt of his single action revolver.
The revolver discharged and the bullet struck Patrolman Vandiver and severed an artery. The bullet entered his right side about three inches below his right breast and passed through his liver. He was transported to Mexia General Hospital where he died at 7:10 p.m. The newspaper reported that Vandiver had been an officer for only a few days.
Patrolman Vandiver was survived by his wife and children three children. Burial was in the Oakwood Cemetery in Waco. During WWII, one of his sons joined the U.S. Navy and was killed in action on October 1, 1944 at age 23.
Survivors
Patrolman Vandiver was survived by his wife and children three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-1EEB3259- 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 Vandiver served with the Mexia Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Mexia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Vandiver.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Coy Carter Vandiver, Sr. is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In TX, 653 of 2,421 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 27% of this state's fallen. That is 4 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Mexia Police Department, 1 of 4 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 25% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Coy Carter Vandiver, Sr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Coy Carter Vandiver, Sr. Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Coy Carter Vandiver, Sr. is highlighted in Apr.
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Mexia Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
