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Inspector

John Henry Heard

United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service — Washington, DC

Felonious

End of Watch May 2, 1932

Age 50

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

The Vigil Panel 142 · Column 1 · Line 11 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 93

Incident

Mounted Inspectors John Henry Heard and another inspector who was stationed in El Paso, Texas, drove to the Tom Boles Ranch about 60 miles south of Hatchita, New Mexico, to speak to the ranch owner about the illegal crossing of horses and cattle from Mexico. A cowhand who had spent the night at the ranch house approached them with an automatic rifle as they stepped from their car. The ranch's owner was standing in the yard as the cowhand asked "What are you doing here?" Before Inspector Heard could reply, the man shot him four times. Three bullets struck him in the chest and one bullet struck him in the side of his jaw. Inspector Heard fired twice at the man before collapsing, but neither bullet hit his assailant. The cowhand ran into the house where the owner's wife and other women were working and then dared the other inspector to fire at him. The ranch owner and the other inspector took Inspector Heard to Hachita and placed him on the eastbound passenger train to El Paso. Inspector Heard died that night at the hospital in El Paso. Three posses were organized to search for the assailant who fled to Mexico. The disposition of the case against is not known. Inspector Heard's body was shipped to his hometown of Pecos, Reeves County, Texas, for burial. The newspaper reported that had had served in the United States Customs Service for 10 years and had been stationed in El Paso for nine years.

Survivors

He was survived by his son.

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Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Inspector Heard gave the United States Department of the Treasury 10 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Inspector Heard.

— 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 May 2, 1932

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Age 50

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle

The Sacrifice · Felonious

John 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.

Compare against

Time

In 1932, 210 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 8th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

John was 50. 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. John had served 10 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%. 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 rifle, in 5.9% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded