Ernest Earle Goode, Sr.

Galveston County Sheriff's Office — Galveston, TX

Felonious

End of Watch June 12, 1938

Age 43

The Vigil Panel 74 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Deputy Goode was shot and killed during an escape at the Galveston County Jail. He was removing an inmate from his cell when the inmate produced a semi-automatic pistol which had been smuggled to him by a friend. The man ordered Deputy Goode to release two other inmates. After Deputy Goode complied, the inmate shot him in the chest as he pleaded for his life. As they attempted to flee they were confronted by the Chief Jailer, who was beaten severely by the men with a iron pipe. One suspect, 28, was apprehended in Salt Lake City, Utah, on July 7, 1938. Another, 34, was apprehended in Des Moines, Iowa, in late August, 1938, in connection with a robbery committed there. The third suspect, 27, and the triggerman, was apprehended in Tacoma, Washington, on October 15, 1938. He refused to say who gave him the pistol. On November 9, 1938, the suspect, 28, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. A week later the suspect, 34, was sentenced to 50 years. On November 23, 1938, the third suspect was sentenced to life. It was his mother that smuggled the pistol to him. On December 2, 1942, he escaped from the Retrieve Prison Farm in Angleton. On February, 24, 1943, he surrendered himself to authorities in Houston. He was paroled on March 15, 1956.

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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 Sheriff Goode served with the Galveston County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Galveston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Goode.

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

Agency

Department Galveston County Sheriff's Office

Location Galveston, TX

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

Service Record

End of Watch June 12, 1938

Age 43

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Sentenced to life

Deputy Sheriff Ernest Earle Goode, Sr. 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 Galveston County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.

Galveston County Sheriff's Office

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