1997

April 6, 1997
Gunfire    – @ 2700 block of Westerland

DOB – 5/18/1971, Age 25
Badge –5891
Class #158
Final Resting Place –    Forest Park Westheimer, Houston TX       

Officer Tony Trinh was 25 years old and was assigned to the missing persons unit of the Juvenile Division. Officer Trinh's family-owned store in the 2700 block of Westerland and Tony was asked to watch the store while they attended a reunion. A suspect entered the store to rob it fatally shot Officer Trinh in the head. At first investigators had no idea who shot the officer and theorized that he may have tried to stop a hold up of the store. A 25-thousand-dollar reward was posted by various organizations to aid the investigation. The slaying hit home to HPD because Tony was not only a fellow police officer had a brother on the force as well.

For weeks the investigation pressed on and it was determined that a suspect had taken some jewelry and was of Asian descent. A break came in the case when Coung Duong Tong was arrested. He was charged with the killing of Officer Trinh. In a statement the suspect said he knew Trinh was a police officer and that was why he shot him. He had planned to rob the store but when he found out that he was dealing with a police officer he shot him. In his statement to investigators, he said he jumped over the counter and pointed his pistol at Officer Trinh. He ordered him to turn over his wallet and at that point he saw it had a badge and ID in it and he knew he was dealing with a police officer. The suspect said that Trinh then said, am a Police Officer, I am a Police Officer. Please do not do this. You will get caught." The suspect said he decided to shot Officer Trinh because he feared the officer would shoot him as he fled.

The arrest of the suspect had come through investigations conducted by the Asian squad of the Westside Divisional Gang Unit. Chief of Police C. O. Bradford stated in the press conference announcing the suspect's arrest, the killing of an officer infringes on what a civilized society is all about."

When officer Trinh was laid to rest an outpouring of the community was felt. Officer Trinh had been in the US Navy and later went to the University of Houston. He was only 25 and had been a member of the Houston Police Department for 2 1/2 years. His family had emigrated from Vietnam had settled in Houston. The loss was great and many turned out from all parts of the community. Dr. Trinh Tran, president of the Vietnamese community stated, Our Vietnamese community is so proud... Officer Tony Trinh was one of our best.' Officer "Tony" Trinh was survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Nguyen Trinh; a brother, Dat "Rick" Huy Trinh, his fiancée Hong-Le Ha; his uncles Loc Thai and Minh Dao; and his aunt Hoaug Thai. Funeral services were held on April 12, 1997 and interment took place at Forest ark Westheimer Cemetery.

Source – Houston Police Department Museum Files