1968

June 26, 1968
Gunfire  @1000 West Loop N.

DOB – 7/14/1922, Age 45
Badge – 1230
Class #9
Final Resting place – Memorial Oaks, Houston, TX

At approximately 11:30 a.m. on June 26, 1968, Wednesday, Officer BE. Gerhart was murdered making a routine traffic stop in the 1000 block of the West Loop North. Officer Gerhart stopped the defendant, Roderick Michael Isaacks and his wife, Monica, for what is believed to have been throwing bottles out of the car on the freeway. Officer took Isaacks back to the police car, talked to him, then went back to Isaacks' car to talk to his wife. She told him that Isaacks ran passed him, opened the right door, reached under the front seat and pulled out a .38 revolver. When Gerhart saw this, he pulled out his pistol but it was too late. Isaacks shot him one time in the face before Gerhart could shoot. Officer Gerhart fell to the street and Isaacks ran back to him, took his pistol, jumped into his car and left.

A witness at the scene picked up the mike in the police car, notified the dispatcher giving him a description of the car, which was a Buick. Officers J.A. Shirley and F.C. Squyers spotted the Buick with Isaacks and gave chase. At the North Loop and Hirsh Road, Officer B.L. James pulled out, also giving chase. Speeds reached over 100 miles per hour. Officer James and Isaacks pulled away from Officers Shirley and Squyers. When they reached the intersection of Highway 90 and Talcott, Officer James attempted to stop Isaacks and Isaacks side swiped James causing him to wreck his car, killing Officer James.

Isaacks abandoned his car, running south on foot. Isaacks had been shooting at Officer James during the chase, but it is believed that the car accident caused Officer James' death. Sergeant H.L. Stephens, Officers Jeffcoat, Robbins and Squyers cornered Isaacks in a field just off 9200 Miller Road and when Isaacks shot at them, they returned the fire and Isaacks was killed.

"No greater gift can a man give them to lay down his life for a friend."

Source – Houston Police Department Museum Files