Orange Police Department, Texas
End of Watch Sunday, August 11, 1935
Add to My HeroesJohn Delaney Godwin Jr.
Chief Godwin was shot and killed at 9:30 p.m. on Green Avenue between Fourth and Third Streets when he attempted to arrest two men who had robbed a taxi driver, tied him to a tree, and took his taxi. Chief Godwin and his officers stopped the taxi; arrested one escapee but the other shot him in the abdomen. He fled on foot; entered a parked automobile, and forced a couple to drive him to Lake Charles, Louisiana, where they were stopped by a special agent for a railway company. He arrested the suspect without incident.
On September, 22, 1935, the two used a fake gun made out of soap to fool the jailer into giving them their freedom. Several minutes later they were captured by a one-armed ex-service man.
On October 5, 1935, one suspect, 20, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. Three weeks later the other suspect, 28, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. He received a conditional pardon in 1943, and was ordered to report to a army lieutenant to be processed for service.
Chief Godwin had been with the agency for five months and was survived by his wife and two daughters.
Bio
- Age 31
- Tour 5 months
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Incident Date Saturday, August 10, 1935
- Weapon Handgun
- Offender Sentenced to life
Most Recent Reflection
View all 8 ReflectionsRest In Peace
Nick mottola
None
August 11, 2020
Recent LODD Deaths

Lieutenant Eddie Mays
Bernie Police Department, MO
EOW: June 5, 2025

Police Officer Gabriel Facio
Apache Junction Police Department, AZ
EOW: June 8, 2025

Police Officer Krystal Rivera
Chicago Police Department, IL
EOW: June 5, 2025

Sergeant J. D. White
Angleton Police Department, TX
EOW: June 1, 2025

Police Officer Timothy Ontiveros
Bloomfield Police Department, NM
EOW: June 1, 2025

Police Officer Samuel Riveros
Baldwin Park Police Department, CA
EOW: May 31, 2025

Deputy Sheriff Daniel Weston Sherrer
Morrow County Sheriff's Office, OH
EOW: May 26, 2025

Deputy Sheriff Nathaniel Ansay
Florence County Sheriff's Office, SC
EOW: May 20, 2025

Lieutenant Allen "Noochie" Credeur
Rayne Police Department, LA
EOW: May 5, 2025