Patrolman Berry Joe McGuire

Patrolman Berry Joe McGuire | Amarillo Police Department, Texas
Amarillo Police Department, Texas
Patrolman Berry Joe McGuire

Amarillo Police Department, Texas

End of Watch Thursday, December 25, 1980

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Berry Joe McGuire

Patrolman Berry McGuire was shot and killed following a traffic stop on the 900 block of South Willow Street.

After arresting one of the suspects in the vehicle the man attempted to flee. As Patrolman McGuire attempted to put the subject back in the patrol car the other occupants of the vehicle he stopped came to the subject's assistance. During the struggle one of the men took Patrolman McGuire's gun and shot him twice. He was then held on the ground by two of the men and a third shot him in the head, killing him.

The subjects then fled the scene but were all apprehended. Three of the men, who were brothers aged 17, 19, and 23, were sentenced to life. The 17-year-old was denied parole on May 5, 2021. His next parole hearing is in May of 2024. The 19-year-old was denied parole on March 30, 2021. His next parole hearing is in March of 2024. The third suspect was denied parole on June 8, 2021. his next parole hearing is in June of 2024. The fourth was not charged when it was determined he attempted to help Patrolman McGuire during the struggle.

Patrolman McGuire was a veteran of the Texas Air National Guard. He was survived by his wife.

Bio

  • Age 26
  • Tour Not available
  • Badge Not available
  • Military Veteran

Incident Details

  • Cause Gunfire
  • Weapon Officer's handgun
  • Offender Three sentenced to life

juvenile offender, traffic stop

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When my dad came home from Vietnam we got stationed to a college town, Panhandle State in Goodwell Okla. where my dad would be Senior NCO. This is where we met Barry when he enrolled in the ROTC. It was a small college so the Military rules of rank and order weren't followed to a T and it was not unusual for cadets to stop in and talk to my dad. I remember numerous times Barry stopping in and I could see that my dad always enjoyed talking to Barry.
Barry also worked at the, back then it was a tiny hospital in Guymon to earn extra money when I was taken in with a 102 temp. Barry could see I was sick, but I was scared. He sat with me pretty much the whole time trying to get me to laugh.
My dad commissioned Barry and in 1977 we packed up and moved again. We were in Germany when we got word that Barry had been killed. Our family, my dad... we were crushed with this news. I swore in my mind I would never forget Barry.
I am nearing 60 and I am working on a quilt for my local Police Dept that has a patch from every state. When it came to picking a town in Tx, hands down, it had to be Amarillo, in memory of Barry.
I will always remember Barry as an AWESOME guy who loved to have fun. Full of life. Caring and compassionate for his fellow human beings and this earth is just a shade darker without him!!

As for cop killers, they dont deserve to live!! They should be given a death sentence that gets carried out immediately. And their death should be in the same manner that they killed the Officer! No Exceptions! No Mercy!

Anna Caudle
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January 25, 2022

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