On Thursday, September 19, 1985, Deputy Jess Willard Rozell, Jr., reported to duty at 0600 hrs. At approximately 0838 hrs, Deputy Rozell was on routine patrol traveling north on Stuebner Airline when he observed a traffic violation near the 9600 block. He stopped the violator’s car for the traffic violation and approached the violator’s vehicle. Deputy Rozell issued the driver a traffic citation for the traffic violation. He then walked back to his patrol car, reentered his vehicle and sat behind the steering wheel. Suddenly, Deputy Rozell apparently suffered a massive heart attack and slumped over the steering wheel. A passing school bus driver saw him slumped over and she immediately pulled the school bus over to the shoulder and rushed to Deputy Rozell’s aid. She was unable to get a response from the deputy. She took the police radio microphone and called for help. Other motorists were also beginning to stop to try and help. Additional Harris County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived on the scene along with a Harris County Emergency Corps ambulance. CPR was immediately administered by ambulance personnel and Deputy Rozell was transported to Houston Northwest Hospital. All efforts to revive Deputy Rozell were unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead at the hospital. When the school bus driver first saw Deputy Rozell slumped over against the steering wheel she stated he was holding the police microphone in his left hand, a pen in his right hand, the traffic ticket pad on his lap, and the completed traffic ticket was sitting on the seat next to his right leg. Deputy Jess Willard Rozell, Jr., was the 21st deputy to die in the line of duty.