Roll of Honor
Incident
Posseman George Swank was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a gang of bandits terrorizing the area.
The sheriff deputized a group of men to arrest a group of bandits who were raiding cattle, robbing ranches, stealing horses, taking citizens hostage, setting fires, and terrorizing Nueces County. Posseman Swank and three other posse members found the group camping in a brush. As they approached, a gunfight ensued and Posseman Swank was shot and killed.
All the bandits fled except for one. He was captured, taken into Nuecestown (current day Corpus Christie), and hung.
Posseman Swank was a Civil War Union Soldier and had served one day with the Nueces County Sheriff's Office.
Survivors
He was survived by his parents and siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-6C7C7053- 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
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.
Posseman Swank served with the Nueces County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Corpus Christi community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
George W. Swank served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Posseman George W. Swank 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 Nueces County Sheriff's Office, 7 of 9 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 77.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. George W. Swank's cause is highlighted.
How George W. Swank Compares
Offender Outcome
Hung
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. George W. Swank is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. George W. Swank was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
8 officers from Nueces County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
