Incident
Jailer Patrick Kelly was beaten to death my a mentally ill inmate at the Galveston County Jail.
Jailer Kelly was attacked by the inmate, who struck and kicked him. The inmate then pulled Jailer Kelly into a cell where he beat him mercilessly, stomping on his chest and stomach. The inmate had to be forcibly restrained in order for Jailer Kelly to be rescued and receive medical attention. Jailer Kelly died six days after the vicious attack.
Jailer Kelly had served with the Galveston County Sheriff's Department for five years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-34316CED- 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
135 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Jailer Kelly gave the Galveston County Sheriff's Office 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Galveston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Jailer Patrick Kelly 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 Galveston County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Patrick Kelly's cause is highlighted.
How Patrick Kelly Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Patrick Kelly is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Galveston County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.

