Humberto Javier Avila

Mission Police Department — Mission, TX

Accident Veteran

End of Watch October 2, 1974

Age 38

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

The Vigil Panel 114 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 3

Incident

Patrolman Humberto Avila was killed when the helicopter he was flying crashed shortly after takeoff. It was later determined that the cause of the accident was due to the use of the wrong type of bolts. Dispatcher Douglas Dodson of the Harlingen Police Department, who was acting as observer, was also killed. The helicopter was co-owned by several regional agencies. Patrolman Avila was a U.S. Army veteran and served with the Mission Police Department for six years.was survived by his wife and six children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-47395603
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Humberto. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

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.
Patrolman Avila gave the Mission Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Mission community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Mission Police Department

Location Mission, TX

Platform Identity misspd.hidalgo.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 2, 1974

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

Age 38

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Military Service

Humberto Javier Avila served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Patrolman Humberto Javier Avila 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 Mission Police Department, 1 of 4 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 25% of this agency's fallen.

Mission Police Department

of 4 officers

25% Accident

TX — Statewide

653

of 2,421 officers

27% Accident

Nationwide

10,088

of 32,508 officers

31% Accident