Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Highway Patrol, Texas
End of Watch: Friday, September 16, 1983
Age: 57
Tour of Duty: 34 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire (Inadvertent)
Date of Incident: September 16, 1983
Weapon Used: Officer's handgun
Suspect Info: Ruled accidental
Captain Robert Jones was accidentally shot and killed by a fellow officer who was demonstrating weapon handling and self-defense techniques at the Department of Public Safety regional license office in Garland.
At 3:05 p.m., the officer was showing new techniques he had learned at retraining school after unloading his weapon. After he reloaded the weapon, he was asked about another maneuver. He drew the loaded .357 Magnum revolver, and as he brought the weapon up, it discharged, striking Captain Jones in the chest and killing him. The shooting was ruled accidental by the agency.
Captain Jones was a United States Marine Corps World War II veteran and had served with the Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Highway Patrol for 34 years. He left the agency in 1951 for three months to play professional baseball with the New York Yankees. He was survived by his wife, two sons, and a grandchild.