Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Fred Maddox was shot and killed while coming to the aid of another officer who was involved in a shootout. The other officer had responded to a robbery call on Laura Koppe Street. As the officer investigated the shooting he learned that the suspect was at a nearby location attempting to hail a cab. When the officer approached, the man opened fire on the officer. Officer Maddox and his partner were driving a police wagon nearby and heard the shots. They stopped to investigate and were immediately fired upon by the suspect and Officer Maddox was shot in the head. The suspect was sentenced to death for Officer Maddox's murder and executed on January 4, 1956. Officer Maddox was a WWII veteran had served with the Houston Police Department for three and a half years.
Survivors
He was survived by his expectant wife and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-D7951BA3- 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 Maddox 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
Fred Maddox, Jr. served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Police Officer Fred Maddox, Jr. 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. Fred Maddox, Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Fred Maddox, Jr. Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1956
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Fred Maddox, Jr. is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Fred Maddox, Jr. was killed by handgun; .38 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
116 officers from Houston Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
