Prev Next
Ernest Elmer Bates
Agency patch
Officer

Ernest Elmer Bates

Dallas Police Department — Dallas, TX
Accident
United States flag Texas flag
End of Watch December 5, 1942
Age 35
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
Badge 249
The Vigil Panel 79 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 94

Incident

Officer Ernest Bates succumbed to injures received four months earlier when he was struck by a city bus. He was directing traffic at the intersection of Elm Street and Akard Street and was attempting to get out of the way of a car when he jumped in front of the bus. Officer Bates suffered severe back injuries but was able to return to light duty after three weeks. Two months later, although still in great pain, he returned to full duty directing traffic in the same intersection. On the evening of December 5, 1942, he collapsed while directing traffic and was rushed to a local hospital. He died while in surgery as doctors attempted to correct injuries from the original accident. Officer Bates had served with the Dallas Police Department for six years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtqhazwke0m0dn91mh40z
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 Ernest. 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.
Officer Bates gave the Dallas Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Dallas community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Bates.

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

Agency

Department Dallas Police Department
Type Police Department
Location Dallas, Collin County, TX
Platform Identity dpd.dallas.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 5, 1942
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
Age 35
Badge Number 249
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Ernest is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  3. See the roll
  4. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1942, 65 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 65th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Ernest was 35. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Ernest had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

December holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Saturdays: 14.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Dallas Police Department has 95 officers remembered here, Ernest among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Officer Ernest Elmer Bates

Dallas Police Department · End of Watch December 5, 1942

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 40-W

↑