Bennie Frank Elrod

Galveston Police Department — Galveston, TX

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch March 11, 1948

Age 29

Badge 273

The Vigil Panel 84 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 18

Incident

Officer Bennie Elrod was shot and killed in the city jail at 10:00 pm after arresting a husband and wife for fighting at a downtown bar. While at the jail, the un-handcuffed wife grabbed Officer Elrod from behind, pinning his arms. The husband then grabbed Officer Elrod's .45 caliber service weapon and shot him twice at close range. Both suspects were kept in custody after the incident. The man received a two-year suspended sentence. Officer Elrod was a United States Army WWII veteran. He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter. He is buried at Forest Park East Cemetery in Webster, Harris County, Texas.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-CD4243A0
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.
Officer Elrod served with the Galveston Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Galveston 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

Department Galveston Police Department

Location Galveston, TX

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

Service Record

End of Watch March 11, 1948

Age 29

Badge Number 273

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender 2 years suspended

Military Service

Bennie Frank Elrod served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Officer Bennie Frank Elrod 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 Police Department, 10 of 19 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 52.6% of this agency's fallen.

Galveston Police Department

of 19 officers

52.6% Felonious

TX — Statewide

1,463

of 2,421 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious