Memorial

Always Remember...

SGT. JOHN ROBERT "BOBBY" VICHA

End of Watch: Tuesday, August 29, 1989

Sgt. Vicha, 39, was shot and killed at his home in Axtell, Texas, while attempting to stop his brother-in-law from murdering his family. Sgt. Vicha's parents were also killed at their home about one-quarter mile away.

The suspect, Billy Wayne Coble, fled taking Sgt. Vicha's sister at gunpoint. Bosque County S.O. spotted Coble's vehicle and a high-speed chase ended when Coble ran into the back of a truck. Coble was convicted of murder and sentenced to death, but the sentence was overturned by an appeals court. He is currently serving his sentence in Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Sgt. Vicha was an 18-year veteran of WPD. He was survived by two children. Back to memorial page

SGT. ROGER EARL BARRETT

End of Watch: Saturday, June 12, 1976

Sgt. Barrett, was stabbed several times and shot with his own revolver while trying to arrest a suspect who had just stabbed a man to death at the Greyhound Bus Station, 700 Columbus.

The suspect, 23-year-old Thelette Brandon, ran from the terminal and attempted to escape in a taxi. As Sgt. Barrett pulled Brandon out of the taxi, Brandon stabbed him and wrestled Sgt. Barrett's pistol away and shot him. Brandon fled down an alley where he was captured after receiving several gunshot wounds from responding officers.

Patrolmen Mike Young and Steve DeLaRosa took Sgt. Barrett to the hospital in a patrol car where he died shortly after arrival.

Sgt. Barrett, 42, was an 18-year veteran of WPD and is survived by a wife and daughter.

Thelette Brandon was convicted of capital murder, but his sentence was commuted to life. He is currently in Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Back to memorial page

HONOR AND REMEMBER

Texas leads the nation in the number of officer deaths

The National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Foundation reports Texas leads the nation in 2008 in the number of officer fatalities. So far this year, seven Texas peace officers have been killed in the line of duty. As of June 30, 61 officers nationwide had made the ultimate sacrifice.

The Peace Officers Memorial Foundation honors Texas' fallen officers by providing assistance and support in a line of duty death. The foundation also offers college scholarships, sponsors the biennial Memorial Service at the Texas State Capitol and supports research to find and honor all Texas peace officers who throughout history have made the ultimate sacrifice. The POMF is a 501(c)3 charity of the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas.

The Officer Down Memorial Page is a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring America's fallen law enforcement heroes. More than 19,000 officers have made the ultimate sacrifice in the United States and ODMP pays a lasting tribute to each of these officers by preserving their memories within its pages.

► WPA BRIEFING ROOM

WPA President Anne Cyr backed by the WPA Board of Directors talks to the Waco media about the billboards along IH-35 on Oct. 21, 2008.

Waco is the 7th Most Violent City in Texas!

FBI Crime Statistics show Waco is becoming more dangerous. With an alarming increase in the number of drive-by shootings, home invasions, armed robberies and violent crime, the criminals are creating an atmosphere of fear in our city. Repeated attempts to warn the Mayor and City Council of Waco's growing crime problem have been ignored by the politicians at City Hall. They don't want to discuss the issue in a public meeting because they don't want you to know how dangerous our city has become.

That's why in Fall 2008, the Waco Police Association took its message to the community in the form of billboards along IH-35. The billboards were posted several weeks after a similar warning appeared in commercials on local television stations.