Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Charles Lacey was shot in the throat by a man he discovered sexually assaulting a woman in a car on February 18, 1981. The man had murdered two other people earlier in the day before abducting the woman. He had pulled over on the side of the road and was attempting to assault her when Deputy Lacey pulled up behind them. The man immediately drove away but was stopped by Deputy Lacey approximately one mile away. When Deputy Lacey contacted the driver, he was immediately shot. The wound paralyzed him from the neck down, and he died on November 5, 1982, from complications of the wound. The woman the suspect was assaulting was able to escape when the man stopped for gas later in the day. The subject was convicted of attempted capital murder and sentenced to 99 years in prison. Deputy Lacey was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of the Vietnam War. He had served with Travis County Sheriff's Office for four years and had previously served with the Austin Police Department for five years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-ACA1C25D- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Deputy Sheriff Lacey gave the Travis County Sheriff's Office 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Austin community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Charles B. Lacey served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Deputy Sheriff Charles B. Lacey 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 Travis County Sheriff's Dept., 6 of 8 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles B. Lacey's cause is highlighted.
How Charles B. Lacey Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 99 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles B. Lacey is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charles B. Lacey was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
7 officers from Travis County Sheriff's Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
