Narcotics Sergeant Randy Davis, along with other agents of the Longview Police Department Narcotics Unit which he supervised, were attempting to serve a narcotics search warrant on a room at a local motel. Undercover agents had earlier purchased narcotics from a subject who was staying in the room. Sergeant Davis obtained a pass key from the motel manager so that agents could obtain quick access to the room and prevent the suspect from destroying evidence. As Sergeant Davis unlocked the room door and began to open it, a single gunshot was fired from within the room by the suspect. The bullet struck Sergeant Davis in the chest, fatally wounding him. Following a brief standoff, the suspect surrendered without further incident.

At the time of his death, Sergeant Davis had served 7 years with the Longview Police Department. He had previously served with the Galena Park, Texas Police Department and the Harrison County, Texas Sheriff's Office.

Sergeant Davis was survived by his wife and two children.

Early on the morning of November 22, 1977, Officer Sowders was enroute to an armed robbery of a convenience store - the second such robbery in less than an hour. While enroute, Officer Sowders met a vehicle which appeared suspicious to him.. Officer Sowders turned his vehicle around and initiated a traffic stop to investigate further.

Officer Sowders exited his patrol car and began to approach the other vehicle when the driver suddenly exited and immediately began firing at Officer Sowders with a .357 magnum revolver. Officer Sowders was struck numerous times. Although able to draw his service revolver, Officer Sowders was unable to return fire due to his fatal injuries.

At the time of his death, Officer Sowders had served 3 months with the Longview Police Department. He had previously worked as a Deputy Sheriff with the Harris County, Texas Sheriff's Office. Officer Sowders was survived by his wife.

During the course of investigating a traffic accident he had been dispatched to, Officer Stevens walked into one of the traffic lanes to measure skid marks left by one of the involved vehicles.

A passing motorist failed to see Officer Stevens in the roadway and struck him with her car. Officer Stevens died as a result of his injuries. At the time of his death, Office Stevens had served 7 years with the Longview Police Department.

Officer Stevens was survived by his wife and two children.

While conducting a follow-up investigation on several armed robberies, Detective Sergeant W. A. Connell and another detective went to a residence to interview a person known to have information about a suspect. Upon arriving at the residence and knocking on the door, the detectives were confronted by the suspect who was armed with a handgun.

Both detectives were taken hostage and their hands and feet were bound using handcuffs and electrical cord. The suspect then left the residence, leaving the two detectives alone inside the house.

Sergeant Connell was able to crawl over to a telephone where he was able to dial the police dispatcher and report their situation. Sergeant Connell then collapsed on the floor and died from a massive heart attack. The Medical Examiner determined the heart attack was the result of the severe stress placed on Sergeant Connell by the situation. At the time of his death, Sergeant Connell had served 17 years with the Longview Police Department. Sergeant Connell was survived by his wife and two children.

Officer B.C. “Fatty” Roberts and his partner, Officer Boyd Gaunt, were responding to a reported house fire when their patrol car was involved in a collision with a fire truck enroute to the same call. Both officers died as a result of injuries sustained in the collision as did a Longview firefighter riding on the back of the fire truck.

At the time of his death, Officer Roberts had served 4 years with the Longview Police Department.

Officer Boyd Gaunt and his partner, Officer B.C. Roberts were responding to a reported house fire when their patrol car was involved in a collision with a fire truck enroute to the same call.

Both officers died as a result of injuries sustained in the collision, as did a Longview firefighter riding on the back of the fire truck. At the time of his death, Officer Gaunt had served 1 year with the Longview Police Department.

Early on the morning of September 24, 1886, City Marshall George Tabler was leaving the dining room of the Capitol Hotel in Marshall, Texas when he was ambushed by T.M. Teague and L.L. Teague. Tabler who was in Marshall to attend a trial in District Court fell to the ground mortally wounded.

T.M. Teague and L.L. Teague had gunned down Tabler in retaliation for a shooting that occurred in Longview on July 3, 1886 in which Gregg County attorney Jeff Teague, who was the son of T.M. Teague and the father of L.L. Teague, was shot and killed by Tabler after Jeff Teague opened fire on Tabler the morning after he and Tabler had gotten into a fight.

Tabler had responded to a disturbance at the Daisy Saloon in Longview on July 2, 1886 involving Jeff Teague and he and Teague were soon fighting.

The next morning Teague was on the street telling people that he was going to shoot Tabler and when Tabler exited a downtown business, Teague began shooting at him and Tabler returned fire killing Teague.

Tabler was the first Longview peace officer to die in the line of duty.

Marshall Tabler was survived by his wife.