Rufus H. Daniels
Agency patch
Police Officer

Rufus H. Daniels

Houston Police Department — Houston, TX
Felonious
End of Watch August 23, 1917
Age 56
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
The Vigil Panel 32 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Rufus Daniels, Police Officer Horace Moody, Police Officer Edwin Meinecke, Police Officer Ira Raney, and Police Officer Daniel Patton were shot and killed during race riots that started after the arrest of several black soldiers assigned to Camp Logan. After being harassed by citizens, a large mob of soldiers stole rifles and went on a rampage, shooting and killing a total of 16 people throughout the city. Over 100 soldiers were court-martialed after being taken into custody during the riots. Nineteen of them were sentenced to death and executed. In 2023, with insurmountable evidence, all soldiers were granted clemency, and their service records were changed to honorably discharged. Officer Daniels served with the Houston Police Department for six years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two small children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-7245F630
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Daniels gave the Houston Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Houston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Daniels.

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

Agency

Location Houston, TX
Platform Identity hpd.harris.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 23, 1917
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
Age 56
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Police Officer Rufus H. Daniels 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
84
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

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Rufus H. Daniels'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 Rufus H. Daniels Compares

Age at End of Watch
56
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
6
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Rufus H. Daniels is highlighted in Aug.

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.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location