Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Joe Herrera was killed when his patrol car was intentionally rammed by a vehicle that was being chased by other officers.
Sergeant Herrera was off duty doing paperwork at the police station when he heard radio traffic of a chase coming towards Friona. He immediately got into his patrol car and headed towards the pursuit.
As he neared the pursuit, he pulled over onto the side of County Road N and activated his emergency lights. As the fleeing pickup truck approached from the opposite direction, the suspect swerved onto the side of the road and struck Sergeant Herrera's patrol car in the front corner and driver's side door, killing Sergeant Herrera instantly. The driver of the vehicle was seriously injured and put under police custody at a local hospital.
The suspect was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Sergeant Herrera had served with the Friona Police Department for five years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, 10-year-old son, three daughters (ages two months, 4 years, and 11 years), parents, sister, and brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-91EABDFE- 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.
Sergeant Herrera gave the Friona Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Friona community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Herrera.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Jose Arturo "Joe" Herrera 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. Jose Arturo "Joe" Herrera's cause is highlighted.
How Jose Arturo "Joe" Herrera Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jose Arturo "Joe" Herrera is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Jose Arturo "Joe" Herrera was killed by automobile.