Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Sproul was shot and killed while he and two other officer attempted to arrest three youths who had just looted the ranch of a fellow Sheriff. When the three officers surrounded the youth the 19-year-old suspect shot Sheriff Sproul with a rifle he had stolen. When arrested the suspect stated he thought he was shooting a cow.
The suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to seven years. He was released on October 13, 1936.
Sheriff Sproul had been with the agency for 18 years and was survived by his wife and young son.
Sheriff Sproul was shot and killed while he and two other officer attempted to arrest three youths who had just looted the ranch of a fellow Sheriff. When the three officers surrounded the youth the 19-year-old suspect shot Sheriff Sproul with a rifle he had stolen. When arrested the suspect stated he thought he was shooting a cow.
Survivors
Sheriff Sproul had been with the agency for 18 years and was survived by his wife and young son.
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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sheriff Sproul gave the Jeff Davis County Sheriff's Department 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Fort Davis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Sproul.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Franklin Lee Sproul 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. Franklin Lee Sproul's cause is highlighted.
How Franklin Lee Sproul Compares
Offender Outcome
Released in 1936
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Franklin Lee Sproul is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Franklin Lee Sproul was killed by rifle.