Douglas "Doug" Estes, a Houston police officer for 23 years who took part in a high-speed chase that was featured on the TV show Cops, died Saturday of cancer in his Houston home. He was 44.Estes was diagnosed with malignant brain tumors in late 2002, two months after he and Cathy Estes were married on a Colorado mountain.He underwent treatments including radiation and two craniotomies, Cathy Estes said."He never complained once throughout this entire ordeal," she said."He lost his speech a year ago. His last day was a very rough one."Estes' final months were brightened by the birth on Feb. 10 of his granddaughter, Kiley Madison Kreitz. Kiley's parents are Estes' daughter, Rachel Kreitz, and her husband, Bryan Kreitz, of Katy.Before joining the Houston Police Department Academy in Class 120 in March 1984, Estes worked for the city's Park Police for about three years.About 10 years ago, Estes took part in a high-speed chase of a suspect who was fleeing from HPD officers.Aided by a police helicopter, the officers ultimately arrested the suspect.The episode was filmed and frequently appears on the long-running Cops TV show, which features actual police action.Born in Houston, Douglas Eugene Estes grew up in South Houston, where he graduated from South Houston High School in 1979.After working briefly in a family-operated machine shop, he followed several relatives into police work.At HPD, Estes served in the homicide, burglary and theft divisions and as a motorcycle officer. He retired Sept. 2, 2004.In addition to his wife, daughter and granddaughter, Estes leaves another daughter, Amanda Estes, a student at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville; a sister, Margie Shirley of Philadelphia, Tenn.; his parents, Les and Joyce Estes of Nacogdoches; grandmothers, Bonnie Estes Schroeder of Houston and Georgia Els of Nacogdoches; and lifelong friend James Hawk of Houston.Thank you Susann for all the lovely photos you have added to several of my Find a Grave memorial pages.
Douglas "Doug" Estes, a Houston police officer for 23 years who took part in a high-speed chase that was featured on the TV show Cops, died Saturday of cancer in his Houston home. He was 44.Estes was diagnosed with malignant brain tumors in late 2002, two months after he and Cathy Estes were married on a Colorado mountain.He underwent treatments including radiation and two craniotomies, Cathy Estes said."He never complained once throughout this entire ordeal," she said."He lost his speech a year ago. His last day was a very rough one."Estes' final months were brightened by the birth on Feb. 10 of his granddaughter, Kiley Madison Kreitz. Kiley's parents are Estes' daughter, Rachel Kreitz, and her husband, Bryan Kreitz, of Katy.Before joining the Houston Police Department Academy in Class 120 in March 1984, Estes worked for the city's Park Police for about three years.About 10 years ago, Estes took part in a high-speed chase of a suspect who was fleeing from HPD officers.Aided by a police helicopter, the officers ultimately arrested the suspect.The episode was filmed and frequently appears on the long-running Cops TV show, which features actual police action.Born in Houston, Douglas Eugene Estes grew up in South Houston, where he graduated from South Houston High School in 1979.After working briefly in a family-operated machine shop, he followed several relatives into police work.At HPD, Estes served in the homicide, burglary and theft divisions and as a motorcycle officer. He retired Sept. 2, 2004.In addition to his wife, daughter and granddaughter, Estes leaves another daughter, Amanda Estes, a student at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville; a sister, Margie Shirley of Philadelphia, Tenn.; his parents, Les and Joyce Estes of Nacogdoches; grandmothers, Bonnie Estes Schroeder of Houston and Georgia Els of Nacogdoches; and lifelong friend James Hawk of Houston.Thank you Susann for all the lovely photos you have added to several of my Find a Grave memorial pages.
