Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Eric Van Fossan suffered a fatal heart attack immediately after he and other officers struggled with a suspect at the scene of a domestic disturbance.
During the altercation, the officers were forced to use pepper spray on the suspect. After getting the man handcuffed, Officer Van Fossan stepped back and collapsed.
Officers at the scene immediately administered CPR. Officer Van Fossan was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Officer Van Fossan had served with the Eagle Pass Police Department for 11 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, who serves as a reserve officer with the agency, and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-D78E2B8E- 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.
Police Officer Van Fossan gave the Eagle Pass Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Eagle Pass community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Van Fossan.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Eric Jay Van Fossan is one of 1,306 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 4% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In TX, 88 of 2,421 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 3.6% of this state's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Cardiac compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Eric Jay Van Fossan's cause is highlighted.
How Eric Jay Van Fossan Compares
When Cardiac Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Cardiac deaths across the full memorial record. Eric Jay Van Fossan is highlighted in Feb.