By John MacCormack
San Antonio Express-News
Officer Down: Ty Patterson
 Teyran “Ty” Patterson, 28, drowned Wednesday night in a high water search and rescue operation. |
SAN ANTONIO, Tex. — A Texas game warden from Seguin drowned Wednesday in a high water search and rescue operation after his boat capsized on the Paluxy River near Glen Rose, northwest of Waco.
Teyran “Ty” Patterson, 28, who had become a warden two years ago, was stationed in Johnson County. He became the 17th Texas game warden to die in the line of duty since 1919.
His partner Danny Tuggle, a 25-year veteran, was airlifted to a Houston hospital, where he was listed in good condition late Wednesday.
The incident occurred as the pair tried to recover the body of a 17-year-old suspected drowning victim. It is unclear if they were wearing life preservers, according to a spokesman for Texas Parks & Wildlife. The agency is investigating.
“Ty died doing what he loved. He died serving a Texas family dealing with it’s own tragic loss,” said Col. Pete Flores, a Texas Parks and Wildlife law enforcement director.
“We are going to miss this courageous young game warden, and our hearts and prayers go out to his parents and loved ones,” he said.
Patterson was the son of Viann and Joe Patterson of Seguin.
He was star running back at Seguin High School and later graduated from Texas State University in San Marcos with a degree in criminal justice. Before attending the Texas Game Warden Academy, he worked for the Seguin Police Department as a dispatcher.
When Denera Garcia, a supervisory dispatcher who trained Patterson, heard he had died in the line of duty, she said she thought back on his obvious passion for public service.
“He always liked to help everyone, and that’s how he went,” she said.
Patterson was also well known at “Seguin Fitness,” a gym where he worked out for years when he lived in Seguin.
“He was a big guy, a little over 6 foot and about 240, and hard,” said gym owner Gary Pendergrass, who said Patterson’s personality was just the opposite. “He was a real nice kid. Very polite. One of those soft-spoken strong guys.”
Copyright 2007 San Antonio Express-News