In Memoriam 2025
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Deputy Sheriff
Jesse Perez
Dawson County Sheriff’s Office, Texas
End of Watch Tuesday, April 22nd, 2025
Deputy Sheriff Jesse Perez was killed when debris from a commercial vehicle struck him during a traffic stop on West U.S. Highway 180 in Lamesa.
He succumbed to his injuries at Lamesa Medical Arts Hospital.
Deputy Perez had served with the Dawson County Sheriff’s Office for eight months.
Deputy Sheriff
Melissa Pollard
Wood County Sheriff’s Office, Texas
End of Watch Wednesday, April 9th, 2025
Deputy Sheriff Melissa Pollard was killed when her cruiser collided with the back of a semi-truck at the intersection of FM 14 and State Highway 37-S, between Quitman and Winnsboro, at approximately 10 a.m.
Deputy Sheriff Pollard succumbed to her injuries at UT Health Quitman.
The driver of the semi-truck was not injured.
Deputy Pollard had served with the Wood County Sheriff’s Office for over eight years and had previously served with the Fannin County Sheriff’s Office and the Collin County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputy Sheriff
Jesus Vargas
Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office, Texas
End of Watch Wednesday, January 15, 2025
Deputy Sheriff Jesus Vargas was shot and killed while serving a warrant at Stella Link Road north of Interstate 610 in Houston at 11:30 a.m.
When Deputy Vargas and his partner approached the subject, the suspect fired at deputies from his vehicle. Deputy Vargas was transported to the Ben Taub Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds.
The suspect, who was a repeat violent offender, fled the scene. When a U.S. Marshal K9 located the suspect hiding in a dumpster, the suspect fired multiple shots at the K9. A responding officer returned fire, killing the suspect.
The K9 suffered two bullet wounds to the neck and nose and is in stable condition.
Deputy Vargas had served with the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office for 17 years. He also served with the United States Marshal’s Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force. He is survived by his wife and three children.
Sergeant
Mark Butler
Navasota Police Department, Texas
End of Watch Wednesday, January 15, 2025
Sergeant Mark Butler was killed in a head-on collision during a pursuit on Highway 6 near Farm-to-Market 3090 in Navasota.
When College Station officers confronted a female suspect attempting to cash fraudulent checks at a bank, the suspect fled southbound on Highway 6. At the FM 2154 ramp, the suspect exited Highway 6 and reentered the highway, traveling south in the northbound lanes.
At 3:30 p.m., Sergeant Butler, who was traveling northbound, maneuvered his marked patrol vehicle and collided with the suspect, preventing her from hitting other motorists on the highway. He was transported to CHI St. Joseph Hospital – Grimes Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The suspect was killed at the scene.
Sergeant Butler was a United States Army veteran and had served with the Navasota Police Department for almost four years.
