Roll of Honor
Incident
Night Watchman Louis Cashat was shot and killed while investigating a disturbance near the Holbrook-Taylor Garage at approximately 4:35 am.
Four juveniles, two boys and two girls, had stolen a vehicle in Houston and were driving towards Dayton when the vehicle ran out of gas. A rancher had picked the two boys up and offered to drive them into Dayton to get gas for the car. As they arrived in Dayton the two boys attacked the rancher, stabbing him several times, and disarmed him of his revolver.
Watchman Cashat went to investigate the disturbance but was shot and instantly killed by one of the boys. Both fled on foot but but were apprehended that night.
On January 4, 1951, both 17, were convicted of murder. One was sentenced to 99 years. The other was sentenced to 99 years plus another 99 years for armed robbery. One was released on February 20, 1960, and the other was paroled on February 21, 1968.
Watchman Cashat was survived by his wife and seven children.
Survivors
Watchman Cashat was survived by his wife and seven children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-3085D697- 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.
Night Watchman Cashat served with the Dayton Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Dayton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Night Watchman Cashat.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Night Watchman Louis L. "Frenchy" Cashat, Sr. 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. Louis L. "Frenchy" Cashat, Sr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Louis L. "Frenchy" Cashat, Sr. Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 99 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Louis L. "Frenchy" Cashat, Sr. is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Louis L. "Frenchy" Cashat, Sr. was killed by handgun.