Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Sartain was shot and killed by a sniper while using an employee entrance at the police station during a shift change. The suspect, 16, who lived in an apartment complex 200-yards behind the police station, was apprehended two days later. On April 18, 1972, the suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to 50 years. A life sentence was ruled out due to his age. On February 7, 1974, the boy was released in leu of bond after the Texas Court of Appeals reversed his conviction. On June 4, 1974, he was convicted a second time for murder and sentenced to 99 years. His attorney said he merely shot at a building and did not mean to hit anyone. He was paroled in 1984.
Survivors
Patrolman Sartain was survived by his wife, son, brother, and mother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-ED833849- 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.
Patrolman Sartain served with the Corpus Christi Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Corpus Christi community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Sartain.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman John William Sartain 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 Corpus Christi Police Dept., 7 of 16 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 43.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John William Sartain's cause is highlighted.
How John William Sartain Compares
Offender Outcome
Paroled in 1984
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John William Sartain is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John William Sartain was killed by rifle; .30 caliber.
Others Who Wore This Badge
15 officers from Corpus Christi Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
