David Duncan Murdock
Agency patch
Police Officer

David Duncan Murdock

Houston Police Department — Houston, TX
Felonious
End of Watch June 28, 1921
Age 36
Tour of Duty 8 mo
The Vigil Panel 97 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Murdock was shot and killed as he and other officers responded to a shooting call at 1508 George Street (Present day West Gray Street). As the arrived they were met with a hail of gunfire and Officer Murdock was struck in the jaw. He was transported to a local hospital and was expected to recover. Five days later he succumbed to complications from the gunshot wound. The 21-year-old suspect was arrested, convicted of murder and sentenced to 113 years. He died in prison on January 26, 1922, of tuberculosis.

Survivors

Officer Murdock served with the Houston Police Department for eight months and is survived by his wife and three 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.
Police Officer Murdock served with the Houston Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Houston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Murdock.

— 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 June 28, 1921
Tour of Duty 8 mo
Age 36
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

David 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.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1921, 248 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

David was 36. 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. David had served 0.7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

June holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

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, David among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer David Duncan Murdock

Houston Police Department · End of Watch June 28, 1921

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 24-W

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