Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Beets and Captain Charles Gougenheim were shot and killed while checking liquor licenses at a local bar at 3303 Nance Street. As Officer Beets was leaning behind the bar to read a beer license the bar owner's brother shot him. Officer Beets never saw his attacker. The suspect then ran out of the bar and opened fire on Captain Gougenheim, who was waiting in the patrol car parked outside. Captain Gougenheim exited the car and returned fire, fatally wounding the suspect, however, was fatally wounded himself. Officer Beets was a U.S Navy veteran of WWII and had served with the Houston Police Department for more than three years.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-C09AF4A6- 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.
Police Officer Beets gave the Houston Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Houston 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
Jack Bill Beets served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Police Officer Jack Bill Beets 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 Houston Police Department, 84 of 117 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 71.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Jack Bill Beets's cause is highlighted.
How Jack Bill Beets Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jack Bill Beets is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Jack Bill Beets was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
116 officers from Houston Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
