Roll of Honor
Incident
Ranger Captain John R. Hughes assigned Private Scott Russell to accompany El Paso County Deputy Sheriff W. H. Garlick to serve a warrant for arrest on Manuel Guaderrama for cattle rustling. The Guaderrama clan was well known to law enforcement. The two lawmen went to a business (store and saloon) owned by Manuel and his brother, Juan, in an unincorporated industrial area called Smeltertown. To avoid arousing suspicion, the officers entered under the pretext of buying tobacco.
Juan and his mother, Marina, were the only people in the store. Unexpectedly, Private Russell was smashed in the head with an ax handle by Marina. Juan pulled a Lugar and killed both Captain Russell and Garlick. He pulled down the curtain and hacked at the fallen officer's heads with a hatchet. Juan discovered he had accidentally shot and mortally wounded his mother. Juan's wife arrived and removed both officer's gun's and Russell's gun belt. They called the police and reported the officers were drunk and had struck his mother.
Lawmen believed the Guaderrama clan planned the murders in revenge for the rustling investigation. Thirteen members of the clan were arrested. Seven were no-billed by the grand jury and six, including Juan, were indicted for murder. The clan retained top legal talent. Five were tried on January 13th, 1914, but the jury deadlocked. Rangers and deputies raised funds to aid the district attorney in the second trial. Unfortunately, by the June 1915 trial, only Juan Guaderrama was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to five years in prison.
Deputy Garlick had served with the El Paso County Sheriff's Office for seven years. He was survived by his wife and four children. He was buried in the Valentine Cemetery in Jeff Davis County.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-C545CE71- 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 Garlick gave the El Paso County Sheriff's Office 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the El Paso community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Garlick.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff William Henry Garlick 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 El Paso County Sheriff's Office, 6 of 9 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Henry Garlick's cause is highlighted.
How William Henry Garlick Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to five years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Henry Garlick is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Henry Garlick was killed by handgun; luger.
Others Who Wore This Badge
8 officers from El Paso County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
