Prev Next

Police Officer

William Edwin DeLeon

Houston Police Department — Houston, TX

Felonious

End of Watch March 29, 1982

Age 35

Tour of Duty 13 yrs 5 mo

Badge 2280

The Vigil Panel 125 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 116

Incident

Police Officer William DeLeon was struck and killed by a speeding motorist while working on traffic patrol on the Southwest Freeway. At 8:30 p.m. Officer DeLeon was working radar in the 1300 block of the Southwest Freeway. His partner was passed by a vehicle exceeding 87 mph, and he radioed Officer DeLeon to clock the car on the radar. Before his partner could activate his red lights, the vehicle swerved into Officer DeLeon and his police motorcycle. Officer DeLeon died at the scene. The driver was stopped 3/10ths of a mile from the scene. The driver was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and failure to stop and render aid and sentenced to nine years in prison. Earlier in the day, around 7:15 a.m. Houston Police Department Officer, Winston J. Rawlins, was working freeway patrol when he was struck by a truck during a traffic stop and pinned under a vehicle. The vehicle caught fire, and Officer Rawlins was burned to death. Officer DeLeon had served with the Houston Police Department for 13 years. He was survived by his wife, two children, two step-children, his parents, a sister, and a brother. He was buried in the Field of Honor at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery in Houston, Texas.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two children, two step-children, his parents, a sister, and a brother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: neuraspine_01krbxtmt2jpfc9cym3x6v581r
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 William. 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.
Police Officer DeLeon gave the Houston Police Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Houston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer DeLeon.

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

Agency

Department Houston Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Houston, Harris County, TX

Platform Identity hpd.harris.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 29, 1982

Tour of Duty 13 yrs 5 mo

Age 35

Badge Number 2280

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Automobile

The Sacrifice · Felonious

William 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.

Compare against

Time

In 1982, 122 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 42nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

William was 35. 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. William had served 13.4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.

By month

By day of the week

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 4.9% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded