Police Officer William Edwin "Ponce" DeLeon

William Edwin "Ponce" DeLeon

Police Officer William DeLeon was struck and killed by a speeding motorist while working on traffic patrol on the Southwest Freeway.

At 8:30 p.m. Officer DeLeon was working radar in the 1300 block of the Southwest Freeway. His partner was passed by a vehicle exceeding 87 mph, and he radioed Officer DeLeon to clock the car on the radar. Before his partner could activate his red lights, the vehicle swerved into Officer DeLeon and his police motorcycle. Officer DeLeon died at the scene. The driver was stopped 3/10ths of a mile from the scene.

The driver was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and failure to stop and render aid and sentenced to nine years in prison.

Earlier in the day, around 7:15 a.m. Houston Police Department Officer, Winston J. Rawlins, was working freeway patrol when he was struck by a truck during a traffic stop and pinned under a vehicle. The vehicle caught fire, and Officer Rawlins was burned to death.

Officer DeLeon had served with the Houston Police Department for 13 years. He was survived by his wife, two children, two step-children, his parents, a sister, and a brother.

He was buried in the Field of Honor at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery in Houston, Texas.