Roll of Honor
Incident
Lieutenant Tommy Collins was shot and killed while assisting other officers in responding to a call involving a man firing a .30-.30 rifle at construction workers working at the Ben Donnell Housing Project. Wh officers arrived at 205 E. Wichita, Lieutenant Collins and two other officers were wounded by the gunfire. Lieutenant Collins was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds. The suspect was apprehended and sentenced to three 99-year prison terms. Lieutenant Collins had served with the Wichita Falls Police Department for 31 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, three children, and mother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-5B1B24D9- 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
31 years. You could have gone home.
Lieutenant Collins gave the Wichita Falls Police Department 31 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Wichita Falls community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Collins.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Lieutenant Walter Tommy Collins 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 Wichita Falls Police Dept., 3 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Walter Tommy Collins's cause is highlighted.
How Walter Tommy Collins Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 99 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Walter Tommy Collins is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Walter Tommy Collins was killed by rifle; .30-.30.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from Wichita Falls Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
