OFFICER JACK BILL BEETS
BADGE #1214

KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY AS A HOUSTON POLICE OFFICER


Jack Bill Beets, 30, of 43 Trenwood Street died Saturday, April 30, 1955 in a Houston hospital. Resident of Houston for nine years. Member of Cadet Roth well Lodge Number 1151 AF & AM and Houston Police Officers' Association.

Survivors: Widow Mrs. Helen Beets; son Billy Jack Beets, both of Houston; parents Mr. and Mrs. Alvie Lee Beets, Sr. of Corpus Christi; grandparents John Beets of Italy, Texas, Mr. and Mrs. G. P. Reid Rosses; sisters Mrs. Dorothy Garrett, Mrs. Burt Robinson, Miss Glenda Beets, Miss Kay Beets, Miss Linda Carol Beets all of Corpus Christi, Mrs. Edgar F. Ward, Monterey, California; brothers John D. Beets, U.S. Air Force, Greenville, Mississippi, Kenneth Beets and Jerry Beets both of Corpus Christi; half-brother Alvie Lee Beets, Jr. of Houston; and a number of other relatives.

Funeral services are Tuesday, May 3, 1955, at 10:00 a.m. at Bethel Baptist Church. Burial will follow at Kaufman Cemetery in Kaufman, Texas near his hometown of Rosser. Pallbearers were W.L. Kimble, E. Dominy, H. J. Timme, R. D. McClelland, K. A. McKelvey, and Sergeant J. A. Knigge. Honorary pallbearers: All members of the Houston Police Department. Pat H. Foley Funeral Home, 2116 Tidwell Road.

Officer Beets and Captain Charles Gougenheim were shot and killed while checking liquor licenses at a local bar. As Officer Beets was leaning behind the bar to read a beer license the bar owner's brother shot him. Officer Beets never saw his attacker. The suspect then ran out of the bar and opened fire on Captain Gougenheim, who was waiting in the patrol car parked outside.

Captain Gougenheim exited the car and returned fire, fatally wounding the suspect, however, was fatally wounded himself.

A detail account of this incident is recorded in "Fallen Heroes of the Bayou City".

Jack lived to be 30 years, 2 months and 16 days old.

Submitted by J.B. Haney, Nelson Zoch and Sue Gaines.
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Son of Alvie Lee Beets Sr and Golden Price Reed. Jack was a Houston police officer. He was shot and killed during a gun battle. Another officer died, as well.


3 Fatally Shot In Houston Affray

Houston, April 30 - Two policemen and a negro were shot to death tonight in a gun battle at a tavern.

The dead were: Policemen Charles R. Gougenheim and Jack B. Beets and the unidentified negro.

The two officers had gone to the tavern to investigate a disturbance.

- San Antonio Light, May 1, 1955

Thanks so much to Bonnie Knapp for supplying a photo of policeman Jack Beets.