Prev Next
Frank Chapman
Agency patch
Inspector

Frank Chapman

United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service — Washington, DC
Felonious
United States flag District of Columbia flag
End of Watch September 23, 1906
Tour of Duty 17 yrs
The Vigil Panel 21 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 93

Incident

Inspector Frank Chapman was shot and killed while investigating reports that a group of Mexican smugglers had shot up the town of Lajitas, Texas. He and another inspector had just arrived in the town to investigate the reports when they were ambushed. Inspector Chapman was shot and killed instantly. A Texas Rangers company arrested 14 smugglers in connection with Inspector Chapman's murder, but it not known if any were indicted or convicted. Inspector Chapman was reported to have seen much service on the frontier as a lawman. He was probably a Deputy U.S. Marshal around 1893, a Texas Ranger in 1880-1881, and a Mounted Customs Inspector since the early 1900s.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtmqndmw34jxqj55yf09k
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Frank. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Inspector Chapman gave the United States Department of the Treasury 17 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Inspector Chapman.

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

Agency

Department United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service
Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usdtuscsfed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 23, 1906
Tour of Duty 17 yrs
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

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

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  3. See the roll
  4. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1906, 89 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 69th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Frank had served 17 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.

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

United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service has 94 officers remembered here, Frank among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Inspector Frank Chapman

United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service · End of Watch September 23, 1906

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 13-W

↑