Houston Police Department, Texas
End of Watch: Friday, October 18, 1912
Age: 30
Tour of Duty: 6 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: October 13, 1912
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Shot and killed
Detective Joseph Free succumbed to injuries sustained on October 13th, 1912, while investigating a disturbance at a boarding house at 1020 McKee Street.
Residents of the rooming house complained to the police chief that a man had been making insulting and rude remarks to female occupants. The chief dispatched Detective Joseph Robert Free and a second detective to investigate. It was later learned that two mounted officers had answered a call at the rooming house earlier, but the subject was not in his room.
When the detectives arrived, several women told them the man was demented and had been acting crazy for days. They neglected to tell the detectives he was armed with a large caliber pistol. As the two detectives entered the room, the man shot and wounded Detective Free. The other detective moved Detective Free out of the doorway, and both detectives returned fire. The man was struck in the right chest and died at the scene.
Detective Free was struck on the right side of his stomach, and the bullet penetrated his liver. He died on October 18th, 1912.
Detective Free had served with the Houston Police Department for six years. He was survived by his wife and four children.
He was buried in the Prairie Lea Cemetery in Brenham, Washington County.