Charles Raphael Gougenheim
Agency patch
Captain

Charles Raphael Gougenheim

Houston Police Department — Houston, TX
Felonious
End of Watch April 30, 1955
Age 52
The Vigil Panel 91 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Captain Gougenheim and Officer Jack Beets were shot and killed while checking liquor licenses at a local bar at 3303 Nance Street. As Officer Beets was leaning behind the bar to read a beer license the bar owner's brother shot him. Officer Beets never saw his attacker. The suspect then ran out of the bar and opened fire on Captain Gougenheim, who was waiting in the patrol car parked outside. Captain Gougenheim exited the car and returned fire, fatally wounding the suspect, however, was fatally wounded himself.

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Captain Gougenheim served with the Houston Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Houston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Captain Gougenheim.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Houston, Harris County, TX
Platform Identity hpd.harris.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 30, 1955
Age 52
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Charles 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.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1955, 53 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 135th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Charles was 52. 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.

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

When

April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.

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

Houston Police Department has 117 officers remembered here, Charles among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Captain Charles Raphael Gougenheim

Houston Police Department · End of Watch April 30, 1955

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 26-W

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