Waco Police Department, Texas
End of Watch: Tuesday, August 29, 1989
Age: 39
Tour of Duty: 18 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: August 29, 1989
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Executed in 2019
Sergeant John Vicha was shot and killed while attempting to stop his brother-in-law from murdering his family at their home in Axtell. Sergeant Vicha's parents were also killed in the incident.
The suspect was sentenced to death in two separate trials in 1990 and 2008. Another appeal was denied in 2018 and he was subsequently executed on February 28th, 2019.
Sergeant Vicha was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and had served with the Waco Police Department for 18 years. He was survived by his two children and sister.