Roll of Honor
Walter V. Sebesta
Incident
Constable Robert C. Vajdak and Deputy Constable Walter V. Sebesta were called to a disturbance at a café and beer hall in Snook where a crowd of 30 to 40 people had gathered. While seated in his car, Constable Vajdak saw Tollie Dabney displaying a pistol. Constable Vajdak gave Deputy Constable Sebesta his pistol and approached Dabney ordering him to throw up his hands as he was under arrest. Dabney resisted and a fight ensued. Constable Vajdak was cut nine times and seriously wounded. Deputy Constable Sebesta was stabbed in the chest and abdomen and died instantly.
Tollie Dabney, 52, convicted of the murder of Deputy Constable Sebesta and sentenced to 99 years in prison. He died in prison on July 19, 1964. James Byrd, 52, was convicted of assault with attempt to murder without malice and sentenced to 2 to 15 years in prison. Byrd, was charged as a principal for being present and encouraging the crowd to kill the lawmen. He appealed and his case was reversed and remanded. He died in prison on November 26, 1955.
Walter V. Sebesta was buried in the Snook Cemetery.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and at least four children.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-TX-9A693B54- 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.
Deputy Constable Sebesta served with the Burleson County Constable's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Caldwell community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Constable Sebesta.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Constable Walter V. Sebesta 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. Walter V. Sebesta's cause is highlighted.
How Walter V. Sebesta Compares
Offender Outcome
Died in prison
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Walter V. Sebesta is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Walter V. Sebesta was killed by edged weapon; knife.