Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Joseph Free succumbed to injuries sustained on October 13th, 1912, while investigating a disturbance at a boarding house at 1020 McKee Street.
Residents of the rooming house complained to the police chief that a man had been making insulting and rude remarks to female occupants. The chief dispatched Detective Joseph Robert Free and a second detective to investigate. It was later learned that two mounted officers had answered a call at the rooming house earlier, but the subject was not in his room.
When the detectives arrived, several women told them the man was demented and had been acting crazy for days. They neglected to tell the detectives he was armed with a large caliber pistol. As the two detectives entered the room, the man shot and wounded Detective Free. The other detective moved Detective Free out of the doorway, and both detectives returned fire. The man was struck in the right chest and died at the scene.
Detective Free was struck on the right side of his stomach, and the bullet penetrated his liver. He died on October 18th, 1912.
Detective Free had served with the Houston Police Department for six years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-98C51B00- 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.
Detective Free gave the Houston Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Houston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Free.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Joseph Robert Free 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph Robert Free's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph Robert Free Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Robert Free is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph Robert Free was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
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