Leslie LaVone Graves II

On December 3, 2020, Perryton Police Officer Leslie LaVone Graves II passed away from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty.

Graves was born in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and spent a portion of his childhood there, as well as in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. Graves overcame many hardships throughout his life, and was raised by his grandparents for several years. He shared a very close bond with his grandparents and great grandparents, as well as with his aunts, uncles, and cousins. As a teenager, Graves relocated to Canyon, Texas with his mother. He later reconnected with his biological father and discovered he was the eldest of nine biological siblings, with whom he became very close. Graves graduated from Booker High School in 2006, where he met the woman who would later become his wife, Emma. They were married for seven years.

Graves began his career as a first responder in 2007, when he became a volunteer firefighter. It was in 2017, when he began working at the Ochiltree County Sheriff’s Department as a jailer, that he was inspired to pursue a career in law enforcement and decided to begin his journey to earn a degree in criminal justice. Graves enrolled in the East Texas Police Academy in Kilgore in July of 2019, and joined the Perryton Police Department following his graduation in December. A natural protector, Graves was motivated to serve by the desire to protect and better his community. At the time of his passing, Graves was close to completing his criminal justice degree. Throughout his career, he maintained his dispatcher and jailer licenses.

Currently, Emma lives in Texas with her children and hopes to someday help others who have experienced losses similar to hers. She is excited to see her children grow, and enjoys watching them keep their father’s memory alive as the years pass, stating that he would be incredibly proud of them. The donation from the Tunnel to Towers Foundation has allowed Emma to provide a stable home for her children, and has offered her peace of mind. Emma would like to extend her sincerest gratitude to her family and her in-laws, who have acted as her village, helping to care for her children and offering constant love and support. Above all else, Emma would like it to be known that her husband loved his family more than anything in the world.

At the time of his passing, Perryton Police Officer Leslie LaVone Graves II was preceded in death by his brother, Christopher, and his mother, Annette. He was survived by his wife, Emma, six beautiful children, Rowan, Faith, Samuel “Colt,” Christian, Easton, and Teagan, his father, Stephen, his eight siblings, and his grandparents, Leslie and Sherry.