Police Remember Officer Killed in Wreck

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department is sharing its memories of a retired Tyler police officer killed in a one vehicle accident in Wood County. Pronounced dead at the scene were Dan Ross, 54, and Southern Trace Glaspif, 7. The accident happened around 12:45 Wednesday afternoon on Farm Road 14, about a mile north of State Highway 154. Their bodies have been sent to Dallas for autopsy. According to the Department of Public Safety, the victim’s truck left the road and hit a dirt embankment and then caught fire.

According to a statement from the Tyler Police Department, Ross began his career in law enforcement on January 23, 1978, with the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department. On July 1, 1979, he was hired by the Tyler Police Department. Ross served with the Tyler Police Department for 23 years and retired on June 24, 2002. During his tenure with the department he received his Advanced Peace Officer License, TCLEOSE Instructors License, Commendation Bar, and Certificate of Merit Bar, and was named Officer of the Year in 1993.

Ross was a Field Training Officer and a member of the Hostage Negotiation Unit. He was assigned to the Narcotics Unit for a good portion of his career, and during that assignment he was appointed to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Task Force for a period of time.

The statement adds, “The Tyler Police Department personnel were saddened at the news of Dan and his grandson’s death from yesterday’s vehicle accident. Dan was well liked by police personnel who worked with him and knew him. Even though Dan retired several years ago, he is still part of the Tyler Police family and will be missed.”