John William "Will" Fritz - Dallas, Tx - Grave of a Famous Person on Waymarking.com

Captain John William “Will” Fritz was born on June 15, 1895 in Dublin, Texas. He joined the Dallas Police Department in 1921 as a beat officer but was quickly promoted to detective. In 1935 he was promoted to the rank of captain and was charged with organizing the departments Robbery/Homicide Division. Under Captain Fritz’s leadership 98% of all homicides investigated by the Dallas Police Department were cleared by arrest. On November 22, 1963, Captain Fritz was the primary interrogator of Lee Harvey Oswald following his arrest for the murder of Dallas Police Officer J. D. Tippit. As a result of his interrogation, Oswald was also charged with the assassination of President Kennedy. On November 24, 1963, while Oswald was being transferred from the Dallas Police Department to the Dallas County Jail, Jack Ruby stepped from a crowd of reporters and shot Oswald who later died at Parkland Hospital. Again, Captain Fritz was charge with questioning Jack Ruby who was convicted of killing Oswald and died in prison. Captain Fritz continued to serve the Dallas Police Department until he retired on February 27, 1970. He lived quietly on a small ranch near Dallas, refusing all request for interviews. He died on April 19, 1984 and is buried at Restland Memorial Park in Dallas Texas

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Description: John William Fritz was on June 15, 1896 in Dublin, Texas. During his youth he spent time traveling in West Texas and New Mexico working as a horse and mule trader before serving briefly in World War I. After he was discharged from military service he returned to Texas, where he attended Tarleton College. In 1921, Fritz joined the Dallas Police Department as a beat officer but was soon promoted to detective. In 1934 he was promoted to the rank of Captain and organized the Dallas Police Departments Robbery/Homicide Division. During his leadership the Dallas Police Department solved almost 98% of their homicide investigations. On November 22, 1963, Captain Fritz was one of the first police officers to enter the Texas School Book Depository in the minutes following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. A few hours later Captain Fritz was the first person to question Lee Harvey Oswald following his arrest for the murder of Dallas Police Officer J. D. Tippit. Following extensive questioning by Captain Fritz, Oswald was charge with the assassination of President Kennedy. After being charged with the murders of Officer Tippit and President Kennedy Captain Fritz under the direction of Dallas Police Chief Jesse Curry organized the transfer of Oswald from the Dallas Police Department to the Dallas County Jail. During the transfer on Sunday, November 24, 1963, Jack Ruby stepped from a crowd of reporters and shot Oswald in the basement of the Dallas Police Department. Captain Fritz was present, standing only a few feet from Oswald when he was shot by Ruby. Captain Fritz was once again the primary interrogator of Jack Ruby who was convicted of Oswald’s murder and eventually died in prison. Captain Fritz continued to serve the Dallas Police Department until he retied on February 27, 1970. In the years following the assassination of President Kennedy, Captain Fritz refuse to discuss the investigation and turned down numerous request for interviews. Captain Will Fritz died on April 19, 1984 from the complication of heart disease and cancer. He is resting in the Restland Memorial Park in Dallas, Texas. Date of birth: 06/15/1896 Date of death: 04/19/1984 Area of notoriety: Law Enforcement Marker Type: Horizontal Marker Setting: Outdoor Visiting Hours/Restrictions: Daily - 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. Fee required?: No Web site: [Web Link]

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