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John Charles Risley
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

John Charles Risley

Harris County Sheriff's Office — Houston, TX
Felonious
United States flag Texas flag
End of Watch October 23, 2000
Age 37
Tour of Duty 10 yrs
The Vigil Panel 328 · Column 4 · Line 4 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 55

Incident

Deputy Sheriff John Risley was shot and killed after responding to a disturbance call at a home near FM 2920 and Calvert Road in a rural section of the county near Tomball.

A person at the residence reported that his elderly neighbor had appeared at their home with a shotgun, claiming that they were in the mafia. Deputy Risley arrived on the scene and had requested backup before he was shot and killed by the suspect.

Deputy Risley's backup arrived and asked the suspect where Deputy Risley was. The suspect pointed in the direction where Deputy Risley's body lay, then pointed his shotgun at the second deputy. The deputy shot and killed the suspect.

Deputy Risley had served with the Harris County Sheriff's Office for 10 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and two 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.
Deputy Sheriff Risley gave the Harris County Sheriff's Office 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Houston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Risley.

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

Agency

Department Harris County Sheriff's Office
Type Sheriff's Office
Location Houston, Harris County, TX
Platform Identity hcso.harris.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 23, 2000
Tour of Duty 10 yrs
Age 37
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

The Sacrifice · Felonious

John is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  3. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 2000, 71 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 100th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 37. Of the 14,219 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

October holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.

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.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Harris County Sheriff's Office has 56 officers remembered here, John among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Deputy Sheriff John Charles Risley

Harris County Sheriff's Office · End of Watch October 23, 2000

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 53-W

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