Roll of Honor
Incident
A Texas Ranger and a group of armed cowboys from a Mexican ranch went to the El Paso County ranch of John Hale and found 3 stolen cattle. Two cowboys stayed behind to continue the search. On Sunday, April 14, 1881, 75 armed Mexican cowboys rode into El Paso looking for the two missing men. El Paso County Constable Gus Krempkau accompanied the Mexican cowboys in locating the bodies of the two men at the Hale ranch. Ranger Fitch arrested two of Hale’s cowboys who were bragging about killing the Mexicans.
The bodies were brought into town and an inquest was held. A large crowd gathered, including John Hale and his friends, and there was animosity among Anglos about the armed Mexicans being in the city. Constable Gus Krempkau was asked to interpret for the judge. At noon the judge decided to recess and let the crowd disperse.
Ex-El Paso City Marshal George W. Campbell confronted Constable Krempkau and accused him of favoring the Mexicans. John Hale approached Krempkau and shot him once in the chest. Krempaku slumped against a saloon door, but had strength enough left to pull his own gun.
El Paso City Marshal Dallas Stoudenmire came running toward John Hale. He fired a quick shot at Hale, but hit and killed a bystander instead. Both Krempkau and Stoudenmire now shot at Hale. One bullet hit Hale in the head killing him.
Campbell, who did not want a part in the fight, had pulled his own gun, and Constable Krempkau, who was dying, shot Campbell in the gun hand and foot. Stoudenmire shot Campbell in the body. Campbell dropped in the street and died the next day. Four men died from the shooting that last less than one minute.
Very little can be confirmed about Gus Krempkau. He was apparently appointed a county constable after a candidate failed to make bond after the November 1880 election. Contemporary accounts and the inquest record his name as Gus Krempkau, however, various other accounts and records have different spellings. He was probably from San Antonio, about age 25, a former Texas Ranger under Captain Baylor, and his father also served as a Texas Ranger in 1852-1853. He was apparently buried in El Paso, and perhaps reburied in San Antonio, but no records can be located for a grave site.
Rest in Peace Gus, your story lives on and is re-told many times over here in El Paso. You will never be forgotten.
Officer Linda Goggin Anthony Texas Police Dept February 2nd, 2017
In Our Keeping
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- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
145 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Constable Krempkau served with the El Paso County Constable's Office.
Thank you for your service to the El Paso community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Constable Gus Krempkau 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 El Paso County Constable's Office - Precinct 1, 3 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Gus Krempkau's cause is highlighted.
How Gus Krempkau Compares
Offender Outcome
George Campbell and John Hale
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Gus Krempkau is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Gus Krempkau was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from El Paso County Constable's Office - Precinct 1 are honored on badge.nw.
