Texas Special Police

The Texas Special Police were formed along with the Texas State Police during the Reconstruction Era administration of Texas.

History

Governor Edmund J. Davis, in order to combat crime statewide in Texas, formed the Texas Special Police on July 22, 1870^[1] There were 30 Special Police Officers (SPO) assigned as auxiliary officers throughout the state.^[1] On April 22, 1873, the law authorizing the state police was repealed by the newly elected Democrat controlled state legislature.^[2]

Engagements

On Friday, October 6, 1871, Special Policemen Green Paramore and John Lackey went to a general store in Nopal in Gonzales County to arrest the outlaw John Wesley Hardin. SPO Paramore went inside and SPO Lackey stayed at the back door. Paramore told Hardin he was under arrest and demanded his two pistols. Hardin handed the pistols to him butt first, and then did a border roll, whirling the pistols and shooting Paramore in the head, killing him instantly. Officer Lackey opened fire but Hardin shot him four times before fleeing. Lackey survived his wounds. Hardin was indicted, arrested but escaped jail and was never convicted for the murder of Officer Paramore or the shooting of Officer Lackey.^[1]

Notable members

Sheriff Jack Helm of Gonzales County; Texas Special Police officer, 1869–1870; later killed by John Wesley Hardin during the Sutton–Taylor feud.
Green Paramore was the only Texas Special Police officer killed in the line of duty by John Wesley Hardin^[3]

References

1 2 3 Ann Patton Baenziger, "The Texas State Police during Reconstruction: A Reexamination," Southwestern Historical Quarterly 72 (April 1969)
↑ State Police; Johnson, John G.; June 15, 2010; article; "The Texas Handbook" online; Texas State Historical Association; accessed April 09, 2015.
↑ "Special Police Officer Green Paramore". The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP). Retrieved 12 April 2015.

Notes

Texas State Police from the Handbook of Texas Online

Bibliography

Ann Patton Baenziger, "The Texas State Police during Reconstruction: A Reexamination," Southwestern Historical Quarterly 72 (April 1969).
William T. Field, Jr., "The Texas State Police, 1870–1873," Texas Military History 5 (Fall 1965).

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