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Chief of Police

Ernest Valencia Mendoza

Needville Independent School District Police Department — Needville, TX

Felonious

End of Watch January 19, 2007

Age 54

Tour of Duty 25 yrs

The Vigil Panel 155 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Chief of Police Ernest Mendoza was killed when his patrol car was struck head-on by a drunk driver on FM 1301 in Wharton County.

The truck driven by the drunk driver veered into the opposite lane, causing the collision. Chief Mendoza was killed instantly upon impact.

The drunk driver who caused the crash fled on foot but was apprehended by a deputy sheriff a short time later. The man was charged with felony murder and failure to stop and render aid. The driver had four previous DUI convictions. He was subsequently sentenced to 90 years in prison.

Chief Mendoza had served with the Needville ISD Police Department for 10 years and a total of 25 years law enforcement service.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and seven children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-5A50E363
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

25 years. You could have gone home.
Chief of Police Mendoza gave the Needville Independent School District Police Department 25 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Needville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Mendoza.

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

Agency

Department Needville Independent School District Police Department

Location Needville, TX

Platform Identity nisdpd.fortbend.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 19, 2007

Tour of Duty 25 yrs

Age 54

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Vehicular assault

Weapon Automobile; Alcohol involved

Offender Sentenced to 90 years

Chief of Police Ernest Valencia Mendoza 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%.

Needville Independent School District Police Department

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. Ernest Valencia Mendoza'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 Ernest Valencia Mendoza Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to 90 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ernest Valencia Mendoza is highlighted in Jan.

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. Ernest Valencia Mendoza 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