Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Tom White was shot and killed from ambush while sitting in his patrol car in front of the Wolfe City National Bank. He was shot by one of several men who had been drinking earlier in the evening and who stole a .22 caliber rifle from a pickup truck in a neighboring city. After shooting out a light with the rifle, the man told his friends that he could shoot Officer White from half that distance. After the men split up, the suspect located Officer White and shot him in the head with the rifle. The suspect then stole Officer White's service revolver and fled the scene. A delivery truck driver found Officer White's body in his patrol car. He was seated in the driver's seat, with the door open, and had one foot on the pavement. The suspect was arrested several days later. He was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life in prison. The conviction was overturned on appeal because the testimony by one of the friends was deemed uncorroborated. Officer White was the city's only patrolman at the time of his death.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-D20BDCCE- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Tom. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
22 years. You could have gone home.
Police Officer White gave the Wolfe City Police Department 22 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Wolfe City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer White.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Tom Ellis White 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Tom Ellis White's cause is highlighted.
How Tom Ellis White Compares
Offender Outcome
Acquitted on a technicality
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Tom Ellis White is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Tom Ellis White was killed by rifle; .22 caliber.