Fort Worth Police Department took to social media yesterday to remember the tragic death of one of its own, Officer Jeff C. Couch, who was gunned down in the line of duty on December 20, 1920, a century-old wound that time has not edged into oblivion. Officer Couch, a 25-year-old patrolman with merely two months under his belt, was shot dead after intervening in a heated exchange between two men, according to the Fort Worth Police.
***#EndofWatch***
— Fort Worth Police (@fortworthpd) December 20, 2023
December 20, 1920
Jeff C. Couch
Officer Jeff C. Couch was just 25-years-old and had worked for the Fort Worth Police Department for only two months. On December 20, he responded to the sounds of gunfire and found two men at Twelfth and Rusk at the Dollar Dodge… pic.twitter.com/4cLJmiybNk
On what was likely a routine call-turned-deadly, the young officer responded to reports of gunfire at the Dollar Dodge Garage located at Twelfth and Rusk. The altercation involved Thomas Vickery, who upon being confronted by Couch, drew two pistols and fired seven rounds into the officer.
Vickery, post-shooting, turned himself over to the authorities without incident. He was swiftly imprisoned and confessed to the crime, a fact that does little to salve the sting of history's recollection. The fallen lawman's death, while a century removed, serves as a solemn reminder of the perils police officers face daily.
