Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Kovar was shot and killed while he and his partner responded to a call for assistance on a prowler call at a business. Upon their arrival at 3600 North Belt Line Road the officers split up and Deputy Kovar headed towards the back of the building. As he approached an air conditioning unit he observed someone crouching behind it. He ordered the suspect to stand up at which point shots were fired and Deputy Kovar was struck in the chest by a .38 caliber handgun. He was able to return fire and wound the suspect in the hand. The suspect fled the scene but was later arrested. The man was convicted of capital murder and executed in 1998. Deputy Kovar had been with the agency for eight years but had only recently transferred from the detention unit to the patrol division.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-FEF16EDA- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Kovar gave the Dallas County Sheriff's Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Dallas community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Kovar.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Ray Edward Kovar 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 Dallas County Sheriff's Department, 14 of 20 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ray Edward Kovar's cause is highlighted.
How Ray Edward Kovar Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1998
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ray Edward Kovar is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ray Edward Kovar was killed by handgun; .38 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
19 officers from Dallas County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
