Roll of Honor
Incident
Constable William Tipps was shot and killed when he attempted to arrest a man for concealing stolen property.
At approximately 1200 hours, Constable Tipps and three other constables went to the home of the suspect with an arrest warrant. When the suspect was approached and informed that he would arrested, the suspect appeared to comply, but he then drew a .32 caliber pistol and shot and mortally wounded Constable Tipps.
Constable Tipps was taken to Baylor Hospital in Dallas where he died later that same day.
The 49-year-old suspect was charged with murder, and tried in Van Zandt County. On February 4, 1927 a jury found him guilty and sentenced him to the State penitentiary for a term of ninety-nine years. In 1935 he was transferred to Rusk Insane Asylum and died there on October 7, 1939.
Constable Tipps was survived by his wife, two sons, and five daughters. He is buried in the Prairie Springs Cemetery off Highway 64, between Ben Wheeler and Canton, Texas.
Survivors
Constable Tipps was survived by his wife, two sons, and five daughters.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-TX-25250C42- Stewardship
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- 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.
Constable Tipps served with the Van Zandt County Constable's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Canton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Tipps.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Constable William L. Tipps 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William L. Tipps's cause is highlighted.
How William L. Tipps Compares
Offender Outcome
Deceased
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William L. Tipps is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William L. Tipps was killed by handgun; .32 caliber.