Memorial

Always Remember...

OFFICER ELMER HUDDLESTON

End of Watch: Tuesday, July 2, 1940

Officer Huddleston and Rookie Officer Ira Royals stopped a vehicle with an Arizona license plate in front of the L & M Cafe at Third Street and LaSalle Avenue.

When Officer Huddleston told the three suspects to exit the car, one of the suspects reached for a gun under his shirt. Officer Huddleston exchanged gunfire simultaneously with the man. He wounded the suspect in the head while himself being shot in the throat. He shot the second suspect in the arm, and Officer Royals shot the third suspect in the stomach.

Officer Royals held the three suspects in custody while Officer Huddleston walked into the cafe and told the waitress he had been shot. Officer Huddleston was carried to Providence Hospital by Chief C.C. Maxey. Officer Huddleston, 40, died about ten minutes after reaching the hospital.

He was a five-year veteran. It was Ira Royals first day on the force. Back to memorial page

OFFICER J.M. BASKIN

End of Watch: Wednesday, August 28, 1936

Officer Baskin was investigating a disturbance at the home of I.W. Friedsam at 3130 Colcord where Friedsam was refusing to pay $1 taxi fare. Friedsam shot him with a shotgun from the front door. As Officer Baskin fell wounded, he emptied his service pistol at Friedsam. Friedsam fired again.

Officer John Murphy was in the driveway and returned fire with a pistol and a shotgun while the taxi driver picked up Officer Baskin and carried him to his car. Officer Baskin, 47, died from the wounds ten days later.

Officer Murphy had bullets lodged in his heavy leather belt, evidence that was his only protection from serious injury. Officers surrounded the house and Friedsam was taken into custody. 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.