Constable William W. Cumberledge

William W. Cumberledge

Constable William Cumberledge was shot and killed by a suspect in retaliation for arresting the man for drunkenness the previous week.

The suspect went to the constable's home in Pampa and awoke the constable. When Constable Cumberledge went outside to speak to the man, he was shot in the head and side.

The suspect, 53, was located the next day Bovina, 130 miles away, but shot himself in the head as officers attempted to arrest him. He was taken to a hospital in Clovis, New Mexico, 24 miles away. He survived the wound and was released from the hospital and returned to Pampa seven weeks later but had to be returned when health complications developed. He was deemed unfit to stand trial due to brain damage that left him partially paralyzed and with the I.Q. of a 10-year-old child.

Constable Cumberledge had served with the agency for 1 year.