Christopher Jerome Sobieski
Agency patch
Police Officer

Christopher Jerome Sobieski

Prairie View Police Department — Prairie View, TX
Felonious Veteran
End of Watch September 26, 2004
Age 39
Tour of Duty 15 yrs
The Vigil Panel 152 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Christopher Sobieski was killed when his patrol car exploded after being struck from behind by a drunk driver.

The officer had just finished issuing a summons and was sitting on the shoulder of Highway 290 near Liendo Parkway. A pickup truck driven by the drunk driver slammed into the back of his 1999 Crown Victoria, which caused the vehicle to explode.

The drunk driver was convicted of intoxicated manslaughter and sentenced to 180 days in jail, 10 years probation, and was ordered to keep a sign in his front yard with the words "My drunk driving caused the death of Officer Christopher Sobieski" for 1 year.

Officer Sobieski was a United States Military Police veteran who had served with the Prairie View Police Department for 3 years and had previously served for 1 year with the San Jacinto College District Police Department.

The officer had just finished issuing a summons and was sitting on the shoulder of Highway 290 near Liendo Parkway. A pickup truck driven by the drunk driver slammed into the back of his 1999 Crown Victoria, which caused the vehicle to explode.

Officer Sobieski was a United States Military Police veteran who had served with the Prairie View Police Department for 3 years and had previously served for 1 year with the San Jacinto College District Police Department.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, parents, and sister.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-2E1CE290
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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Police Officer Sobieski gave the Prairie View Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Prairie View community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Location Prairie View, TX
Platform Identity pvpd.waller.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 26, 2004
Tour of Duty 15 yrs
Age 39
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Vehicular assault
Weapon Automobile; Alcohol involved
Offender Sentenced to 180 days

Military Service

Christopher Jerome Sobieski served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Police Officer Christopher Jerome Sobieski 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%.

Prairie View Police Department
1
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. Christopher Jerome Sobieski'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 Christopher Jerome Sobieski Compares

Age at End of Watch
39
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
15
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to 180 days

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Christopher Jerome Sobieski is highlighted in Sep.

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. Christopher Jerome Sobieski was killed by automobile; alcohol involved.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location