the line of duty, all pitch in for the Shane Detwiler Foundation Barbecue Cook-Off and Car, Jeep
and Truck Show held in Liberty Square last Friday and Saturday. Photo includes Precinct 3 Constable
Sherman Eagleton. Shanedetwilerfoundation.org continues to seek funds to supply police equipment
to deputies and scholarships to students seeking law enforcement careers.
LIBERTY – The first Annual Shane Detwiler Foundation Barbecue Cook-Off and Car, Jeep and Truck Show was held last Friday and Saturday, and local participation was led by Harris County Precinct 3 Constable Department.
Major Ricky Larkin would encapsulate, “When Constable Sherman Eagleton heard about The Shane Detwiler Foundation BBQ Cookoff and Car, Jeep and Truck Show, he and several other members of our department, wanted to be part of it. We had three teams competing and several vehicles entered in the show. The Greenwood Cookers cleaned house taking 1st in chili and ribs and 3rd in chicken. Team MBT also showed what Precinct 3 is all about by taking 1st in brisket and best in show in the Jeep category. Thank you to all of our cookers, the coworkers and friends that came out to show support, Patients ER for sponsoring our teams, and especially the Foundations founder, Cheryl Railsback. Deputy Detwiler’s legacy will be with us always.”
Cheryl Railsback, of Huffman, the mother of slain in the line of duty Chambers County Deputy Shane Detwiler, President and founder of Shane Detwiler Foundation said, “Shane was killed in 2009, and I started this foundation in 2010.” Later she would add, “Thank you to everyone who cooked, brought their vehicles out to show, judged our car show, judged our barbecue, came out to support and most of all, those who volunteered to assist with this event! Overall, it was a great success for our first year! I could not have done it without any of you. Looking forward to next year!”
Shane Thomas Detwiler, 31, of Baytown, a married father of three young children was the second lawman to die in the line of duty in the Chambers County Sheriff’s Office’s 104-year history on July 6, 2009. He had been a Texas Parks and Wildlife Game Warden and was a decorated Iraq War veteran.
He lost his life in a showdown at Tower Terrace mobile home community, near Houston Raceway Park, when a meter reader for a municipal utility district tried to shut off the water at a shooter’s trailer home. Shooting began about 9:30 a.m. by a woman named Pamela Leggett-Ortez, now 46, she was arrested when she came outside on the front porch carrying a gun.
Many shots were fired between Gilbert Ortez Jr., a former police officer, and deputies. Ortez opened fire without warning killing Detwiler inside the mobile home: Ortez was found dead inside the mobile home.
Detwiler was awarded a Bronze Star and a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal for his military service.
Shanedetwilerfoundation.org continues to seek funds to supply police equipment to deputies and scholarships to students seeking law enforcement careers.