The Pearland Police Department honors the memory of those officers that made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their community.      

Officer Henry W. Wendell, Jr.

 End of Watch: October 6, 1967
Officer Wendell was struck and killed by a car while he was directing traffic at the intersection of Main and Plum following a Pearland v. Channelview High School football game on October 6, 1967. Officer Wendell chose to hold over past his regular shift to help ease traffic congestion at the time of the accident. Officer Wendell had served seven years on the Houston Auxiliary Police Force and four years as a plain clothed Warrant Officer with HPD. Prior to that Officer Wendell served in the U.S. Marine Corp. Officer Wendell was survived by his wife and five children.

Officer Wendell’s cousin, Houston Police Officer D.F. Horn was quoted as saying that, “Henry had always wanted to be a policeman, ever since he was a small child.” Then-Chief A.H. Casey described Wendell as, “a conscientious, dedicated officer.” On December 15, 1967 Officer Wendell was posthumously awarded a Medal of Valor by the National Police Officers Association of America. Wendell had only been with Pearland PD for 1 ½ months before to his death. 

Officer James Howard Cassidy, Jr.

End of Watch: May 16, 1973
Officer Cassidy, a motorcycle officer, was struck and killed by a truck while conducting a commercial vehicle escort. The accident occurred as Officer Cassidy was stopped on the Gulf Freeway on May 16, 1973. Officer Cassidy had served with the Pearland Police Department for 5 years at the time of his death. Officer Cassidy had also served 5 years with the Lufkin Police Department after service in Vietnam with the Air Force. He was survived by his wife and two children.

Condolences and tributes poured in in the days and weeks following Officer Cassidy’s death. Then-Mayor Carlton McComb made the following proclamation: “…I, Carlton McComb, by the power vested in me as Mayor of the City of Pearland, Texas, do hereby proclaim the week of June 10th, 1973 through June 16th, 1973, as James Howard Cassidy, Jr. Week in Pearland, and give our prayers and recognition to the outstanding deeds of this fine police officer and that through men like him our city and this world will become a better place to live.”

Officer Endy Ekpanya

End of Watch: June 12, 2016
Officer Ekpanya was struck and killed by high-speed driver while in route to a non-emergency call for service. Officer Ekpanya was eastbound at 2500 Broadway when a driver crossed the center line and struck his patrol car. Officer Ekpanya had served with the department less than a year.

Endy was born in Nigeria, Africa and after becoming a United States citizen and graduating high school he went on to earn two Bachelor of Arts degrees: one in Psychology and the other in Sociology. Endy completed his first year of law school but he felt a strong calling to law enforcement and instead changed his area of study to Criminal Justice.

Endy was hired as a Police Cadet with the Pearland Police Department in June, 2015. After graduating from the police academy, Endy was assigned to Night Shift patrol on D Squad. As a patrol officer Endy had a powerful impact on those around him. Stories abound of his generosity and compassion. Endy will be remembered as a man of honor, value and integrity. He is survived by his wife and son.