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 Fallen Officer
Deputy City Marshall - Night Watchman
Green W. Rye
1868-1920
During a recent expansion and redecoration of the Plano Police Department, Luke Grant, a Sex Crimes Detective for the Crimes Against Persons Division, was drawn a story posted in the Police Department hallway which told of a Plano Night Watchman who was shot to death when he interrupted the burglary of the Plano National Bank (which now is the A.R. Schell Insurance Building in Plano) in the early morning hours of February 28, 1920. Detective Grant, knowing that the Plano Police Department had enjoyed the reputation of never having lost a Police Officer in the line of duty, was drawn to this story wondering if anyone was ever punished for this and why Rye was never honored for his sacrifice. Detective Grant spent six months looking into this case.
Detective Grant found that on February 28, 1920 at about 04:45 hours Plano Night watchman Green W. Rye was finishing his rounds at Plano National Bank when two shots rang out. One of the .45 slugs hit Rye in the abdomen and lodged in his spine. Rye staggered about 20 feet and was able to shoot five rounds at the burglars as they climbed a fence at the rear of the bank and made their escape. It is unknown whether Rye hit any of the suspects but blood was found on the fence adjacent to a bullet hole from Rye’s pistol. Captain Charles Gunning, Chief of Detectives with the Dallas Police and Sheriff Ed Blakeman of Collin County were called to investigate. Sheriff Blakeman organized a posse. Rye’s wife, Minnie and 10 year old daughter, Annie were summoned to the house that Rye had been carried to but arrived too late. Rye died without being able to describe his attackers. Rye's last words were "my poor wife, my poor children". It was discovered that Plano National bank had been burglarized by a group of at least four people who had chiseled into the vault and made off with approx. $10,000 in WWI Victory bonds.
In March of 1921 a career criminal, Alfred Gonia, was arrested in Durant, Oklahoma during the burglary of a boxcar. Gonia had earlier escaped from a Columbus, Kansas jail where he had been incarcerated for the burglary of a jewelry store. Gonia claimed to the newspapers and everyone else who would listen that he had information about the killing of Rye. Captain Gunning and Sheriff Blakeman went to Durant to interview Gonia. Gonia claimed to have been a lookout during the burglary and shot one time in an attempt to scare Rye. Gonia maintained that he did not fire the fatal shot. Gonia attempted suicide in the jail after the last meeting with Sheriff Blackman and Captain Gunning. Gonia was sentenced to the Oklahoma State Penitentiary for four years for the offense of burglary and escaped about six months later. He was recaptured in 1927 while serving time in the Wisconsin State Penitentiary under an alias. Gonia was then sent back to the Oklahoma Penitentiary to finish his sentence. Gonia was then transferred to the Kansas State Penitentiary to serve five years for the burglary of the jewelry store in Columbus, Kansas. Gonia was released in 1935. Gonia was never charged in Rye’s murder.
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Detective Grant was able to find Rye’s two granddaughters who have graciously donated Rye’s 1920 badge and his 1889 Colt revolver caliber .41 (made in 1892) to the Department for display. The Plano Police Department has on display this memorabilia in the secured area of the Police |
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Department. Rye was inducted into the Texas Peace Officer Memorial on the weekend of May 4 th and 5 th 2003, in Austin, Texas and will be inducted into the National Police Memorial in 2004. Rye was also honored at the Plano Police Department's Peace Officer Memorial Service in May, 2003.
Detective Grant also found out that the title “Night watchman” was what the Deputy City Marshall was called because he worked the night shift. Rye was a peace officer with powers of arrest and a true hero to the City of Plano.
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