Roll of Honor

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Deputy Sheriff

William Pape

Gillespie County Sheriff's Office — Fredericksburg, TX

Felonious

End of Watch June 6, 1928

Age 53

The Vigil Panel 55 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Deputy Sheriff William Pape succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained on April 22nd, 1928, as he and several other officers were conducting vehicle checks while searching for illegal alcohol in Tivydale.

A suspect, 33, was arrested after the shooting and charged with assault with intent to murder. On June 21, 1929, he was convicted if murder and sentenced to three years. He was released on May 10, 1931.

Deputy Pape was a widower and was survived by one son and his father.

Survivors

Deputy Pape was a widower and was survived by one son and his father.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-A37FF0C7
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.
Deputy Sheriff Pape served with the Gillespie County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Fredricksburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Pape.

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

Agency

Department Gillespie County Sheriff's Office

Location Fredericksburg, TX

Platform Identity gcso.gillespie.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 6, 1928

Age 53

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Offender Sentenced to 3 years

Deputy Sheriff William Pape 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%.

Gillespie County Sheriff's Office

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

TX — Statewide

1,463

of 2,421 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Pape's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How William Pape Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to 3 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Pape is highlighted in Jun.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Pape was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518