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Antonio T. Canales
Agency patch
Patrolman

Antonio T. Canales

San Antonio Police Department — San Antonio, TX
Felonious
United States flag Texas flag
End of Watch May 18, 1972
Age 29
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Badge 773
The Vigil Panel 110 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 63

Incident

Patrolman Tony Canales was killed by a shotgun blast to the chest during a traffic stop attempting to question two possible robbery suspects on Frio City Road. The suspects had recently robbed a service station when Patrolman Canales pulled them over. As Patrolman Canales approached the driver's side of the vehicle, he was shot in the chest. The suspects attempted to flee but crashed their car after Patrolman Canales returned fire. One of the subjects was arrested at the scene. The second subject fled but was arrested, hiding under a nearby house several days later. Patrolman Canales was transported to the Santa Rosa Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds three hours later. The suspects, 22 and 28, were charged with murder. On May 14, 1973, one suspect was sentenced to 10,000 years in prison. The judge said it was his protest against the absence of the death penalty. Patrolman Canales had served with the San Antonio Police Department for two years. He was survived by his expectant wife and two children. His son was born after his death and became a Deputy Sheriff with the Bexar County Sheriff's Office.

Survivors

He was survived by his expectant wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Canales gave the San Antonio Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Antonio community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Canales.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department San Antonio Police Department
Type Other
Location San Antonio, Bexar County, TX
Platform Identity sapd.bexar.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 18, 1972
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Age 29
Badge Number 773
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Antonio is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1972, 142 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 28th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Antonio was 29. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Antonio had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

May holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

San Antonio Police Department has 64 officers remembered here, Antonio among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Antonio T. Canales

San Antonio Police Department · End of Watch May 18, 1972

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 27-W

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