DETECTIVE JOSEPH ROBERT FREE
DETECTIVE BADGE (had no number)

KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY AS A HOUSTON POLICE OFFICER ON OCTOBER

Married Helen Butler on 15 Dec 1901 in Washington Co., Texas. Son of William B. & Elizabeth M. (Whidden) Free. Occupation - Detective for Houston Police Department. While answering a call at a rooming house, he was shot and killed.
Harris Co., Texas death certificate #23529.

NOTE: There is an article in the Houston Chronicle dated 5 May 2011 about Joseph Robert Free.
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Submitted by J.B. Haney, Nelson Zoch and Sue Gaines.Retired Houston Police Officers

Residents of a rooming house complained to the police chief that Floyd Buckingham had been making insulting and rude remarks to female occupants. The chief dispatched Detectives Joseph Robert Free and T.N. Reneau to investigate. It was later learned that two mounted officers had answered a call at the rooming house earlier but Buckingham was not in his room. When the detectives arrived several women told them Buckingham was demented and acting crazy for days. They neglected to tell the detectives he was armed with a large caliber pistol. As the two detectives entered the room Buckingham shot and wounded Detective Free. Detective Reneau moved Free out of the doorway and both detectives returned fire. Buckingham was struck in the right breast and died at the scene.

Detective Free was struck in the right side of his stomach and the bullet penetrated his liver. He died on October 18. He was married and had four children. He was buried in the Prairie Lea Cemetery in Brenham, Washington County. He had been on the police force for six years.

He has a line of duty marker placed at his gravesite by the Nelson Zoch.

Joseph lived to be 30 years, 4 months and 14 days old.