Daryl Wayne Shirley

Houston Police Department — Houston, TX

Felonious

End of Watch April 28, 1982

Age 34

Tour of Duty 15 yrs

Badge 638

The Vigil Panel 125 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 116

Incident

Detective Daryl Shirley was shot and killed as he struggled with a suspect while attempting to serve an arrest warrant at 2929 Rolido Drive. Detective Shirley went to an apartment complex where the suspect was believed to have been. When he arrived, he sat by the pool to wait for the suspect to emerge. When the man came out he spotted the detective and re-entered his apartment to arm himself with a .38 caliber Derringer. Detective Shirley attempted to make an arrest and a struggle ensued. Detective Shirley instructed a passerby to call the police for backup. As the citizen was doing so he heard two shots. When other officers arrived they located Detective Shirley's hat, badge, and glasses on the scene. His body was later found hidden under a canopy in a parking garage. The suspect, 23, was apprehended two days later after being turned in by a friend. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to death, however, the sentence was overturned and he was then sentenced to life in prison as part of a plea deal. His first parole hearing will be on December 19, 2038.

Survivors

Detective Shirley is survived by his wife, daughter, two sons, and his parents.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-4D338629
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 Daryl. 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Shirley gave the Houston Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Houston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Shirley.

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

Agency

Department Houston Police Department

Location Houston, TX

Platform Identity hpd.harris.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 28, 1982

Tour of Duty 15 yrs

Age 34

Badge Number 638

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .38 caliber

Offender Sentenced to life

Detective Daryl Wayne Shirley 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 Houston Police Department, 84 of 117 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 71.8% of this agency's fallen.

Houston Police Department

of 117 officers

71.8% Felonious

TX — Statewide

1,463

of 2,421 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious