Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Darren Almendarez was shot and killed while off duty when he interrupted three men attempting to steal a catalytic converter at about 8:40 pm.
He and his wife were returning to their car in a grocery store parking lot at 2929 FM 1960 when he observed the three men attempting to steal the catalytic converter. He instructed his wife to run from the scene before confronting the subject. A struggle ensued after one of the men produced a handgun. During the struggle, Deputy Almendarez pulled out his off-duty weapon, and shots were exchanged in which he and two of the three suspects were wounded.
Deputy Almendarez was transported to Houston Northwest Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds. The two wounded suspects drove themselves to the same hospital where they were taken into custody. The third suspect was arrested a few days later.
Deputy Almendarez had served with the Harris County Sheriff's Office for 23 years and was assigned to the Auto Theft Task Force.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-DB4505DD- 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
23 years. You could have gone home.
Deputy Sheriff Almendarez gave the Harris County Sheriff's Office 23 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Houston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Almendarez.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Darren Almendarez 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 Harris County Sheriff's Office, 23 of 56 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 41.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Darren Almendarez's cause is highlighted.
How Darren Almendarez Compares
Offender Outcome
2 shot and wounded; 1 at large
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Darren Almendarez is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Darren Almendarez was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
55 officers from Harris County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
