W. C. Simmons
Agency patch
Detective

W. C. Simmons

Texas City Police Department — Texas City, TX
Felonious
End of Watch July 13, 1974
Age 42
The Vigil Panel 114 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Simmons succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained 7 years earlier when he was shot while attempting to disarm a man while visiting a fellow officer's home. The suspect was the other officer's son-in-law and had come to the home in search of his wife. Detective Simmons took a large bowie knife from the suspect but was then shot when the man produced a .45 caliber pistol. The suspect then entered the home and shot and killed the other officer's wife before being shot by the officer. Detective Simmons remained paralyzed until his death 7 years later.

Survivors

Detective Simmons was survived by his wife and son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-7285C81F
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Simmons served with the Texas City Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Texas City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Simmons.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Texas City, Galveston County, TX
Platform Identity tpd.galveston.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 13, 1974
Age 42
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

Detective W. C. Simmons is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,588 officers honored here.

In TX, 1,460 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 6.4 percentage points above the national rate of 53.9%.

At Texas City Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Texas City Police Department
2
of 2 officers
100% Felonious
TX — Statewide
1,460
of 2,421 officers
60.3% Felonious
Nationwide
17,559
of 32,588 officers
53.9% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. W. C. Simmons's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,559 (53.9%)
Accident
10,095 (31%)
Illness
3,038 (9.3%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
334 (1%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)

How W. C. Simmons Compares

Age at End of Watch
42
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. W. C. Simmons is highlighted in Jul.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. W. C. Simmons was killed by handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Texas City Police Department are honored on badge.nw.