June 2020 Blues Issue Vol 36 No 6

‘An absolute tragedy’ | Fort Bend Precinct
4 deputy mistakenly shot by
FBCSO deputy during burglary call
Deputy Caleb Rule
was shot after he and
other deputies were
attempting to clear a
house after responding
to a call.
the Fort Bend
County Sheriff’s
Office
responded to
a suspicious
person call
around 1:45
a.m.
A resident
called saying
she saw someone
running
down the
street who
looked suspicious.
The FBC-
SO deputies
entered the
home in the
3900 block of
Chestnut Bend
through an open back door, the
sheriff said. The sheriff’s deputy
mistook the deputy constable
for a prowler and opened fire,
hitting Rule in the chest. His
bulletproof vest wasn’t enough
to protect him. Deputy Rule was
flown by Life Flight to Memorial
Hermann Hospital, but he didn’t
survive.
Constable Nehls said the two
agencies share a radio system
and it’s not uncommon to answer
calls together. It’s not clear
what went wrong.
FORT BEND COUNTY, Texas
— The Fort Bend County community
is mourning a well-liked
deputy constable who was mistakenly
shot by a sheriff’s deputy
in the Sienna Plantation subdivision
overnight.
Precinct 4 Deputy, Caleb Rule,
37, is being remembered as a
mentor, a great boss, and a family
man.
“He was extremely dedicated
to the job,” said Precinct 4
assigned to the River Stone subdivision,
Constable Trevor Nehls. “He was
had an outgoing person-
a devoted husband, a devoted
ality and loved engaging with the
father, and he spoke often of his
community.
family and his love for his family.ty
“He had a love for the communi-
he served,” Nehls said.
Deputy Rule leaves a wife and
Rule was a veteran law enforcement
four children, ages 13 to 18. His
officer in Fort Bend County.
oldest daughter graduated from
He had been with the Fort Bend
high school Friday night -- not
County Precinct 4 Constable’s
even 24 hours after her father
Office for nine months and served
died.
previously for 14 years with the
“We are heartbroken over this,”
Missouri City Police Department.
FBCSO Sheriff Troy Nehls said.
Both agencies came to be by
“This is an absolute tragedy.”
Rule’s daughter’s side, standing for
Rule and three deputies from Nehls said Rule, who was her and her slain father.
18 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 19