Roll of Honor
DeWitt Clinton Willbern
Incident
Constable DeWitt Willbern was stabbed to death while attempting to arrest a drunk man in Brackettville. He was stabbed above the right eyebrow, in the left chest, and also suffered numerous cuts. Constable Willbern was able to shoot the subject in the side with his .22 caliber revolver. The man was arrested by other officers. He was convicted of Constable Willbern's murder and sentenced to 25 years in prison, where he died in 1966. Constable Willbern had been appointed as the Precinct 1 constable seven months earlier to fill a vacancy.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-7261E2EC- Stewardship
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- 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.
Constable Willbern served with the Kinney County Constable's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Brackettville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Willbern.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Constable DeWitt Clinton Willbern 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. DeWitt Clinton Willbern's cause is highlighted.
How DeWitt Clinton Willbern Compares
Offender Outcome
Died in prison
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. DeWitt Clinton Willbern is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. DeWitt Clinton Willbern was killed by edged weapon; knife.