David Wilburn Roberts

Paris Police Department — Paris, TX

Felonious

End of Watch September 21, 1985

Age 23

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

The Vigil Panel 130 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Patrol Officer David Roberts was shot and killed after stopping a vehicle wanted in an armed robbery. While he was using his radio one of the suspects jumped from the vehicle and shot through the patrol car's windshield, striking Officer Roberts in the neck. As Officer Roberts attempted to exit his patrol car through the passenger door the suspect ran to the car and shot him three more times in the back. The suspect was later apprehended after a manhunt. He was convicted of capital murder and subsequently executed in 1997. Officer Roberts was survived by his wife and son. He had served with the Paris Police Department for two years.

Survivors

Officer Roberts was survived by his wife and son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-A8B194C7
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.
Patrol Officer Roberts gave the Paris Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Paris community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrol Officer Roberts.

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

Agency

Department Paris Police Department

Location Paris, TX

Platform Identity ppd.lamar.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 21, 1985

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Age 23

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Executed in 1997

Patrol Officer David Wilburn Roberts 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 Paris Police Department, 3 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.

Paris Police Department

of 5 officers

60% Felonious

TX — Statewide

1,463

of 2,421 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious