Two years have passed since the city of Mesquite was rocked by the tragic loss of one of its bravest, Officer Richard Houston, who was killed in the line of duty. The seasoned officer was responding to a disturbance call on the 1500 block of S. Belt Line Rd. on this fateful day when he met his end at the hands of a male suspect's gunfire. Left to mourn are Houston's wife and three children, while the perpetrator has since been tried and sentenced to life behind bars without the possibility of parole for the Capital Murder of a Police Officer, according to Mesquite Police Department, Texas.
Beginning his tenure with the Mesquite Police Department on January 8, 2001, Officer Houston distinguished himself as a man of law and integrity. The Department recalled Houston's valedictorian status upon graduating from Session 153 of the Basic Course in Applied Police Science. His roles were diverse, from Patrol Officer in the Operations Bureau to over a decade on the SWAT Team and assignments within Criminal Investigations tackling Burglary and Theft, Homeland Security, and Juvenile/Gang cases.
Houston's legacy is marked by his profound commitment to serve and protect, a commitment for which he received the highest commendations, including the Medal of Honor and Police Cross. For his gallantry and extraordinary heroism, Governor Greg Abbott bestowed upon him the Star of Texas Award, a tribute fit for a man who embodied the very essence of valor. His name will continue to patrol the streets of Mesquite, etched onto a section of Highway 635 that was renamed in his honor as the Officer Richard Houston II Memorial Highway following state legislation's approval.
As Mesquite continues to heal from the loss of such a commendable officer, the Police Department maintains, "Officer Houston's sacrifice will continue to be remembered, and his life and service will forever be honored by the generations of Mesquite Police Officers past, present, and future", per Mesquite Police Department, Texas.
