A well-respected TCU Police Department officer died Saturday of complications related to COVID-19 and several past on-duty injuries.

David A. Marshall, 61, had served as a TCU police officer since 2016. His death was announced in an email to the TCU community by Vice-Chancellor of Student Affairs Kathryn Cavins Tull Tuesday. 

Marshall is survived by his wife Kathy, brothers Stephan and John, mother Carolyn and three children.

In her email to the TCU community, Executive Assistant to the Chancellor Bridget Ledesma wrote that “David enjoyed traveling, vacations with his family and spending time with his brother and their families. David was always happy and had an infectious smile.”

David Marshall’s brother, John Marshall, is also a former TCUPD officer and remembered his brother for his positive attitude and family-first mentality.

“He loved police work in every sense but his life was his family,” John Marshall said.

The Texas native started his career with the Fort Worth Police Department in 1984 and served as a Deputy Sheriff in Colorado before retiring with FWPD with the rank of Sergeant in 2014. David Marshall was also a U.S. Army reserve during Operation Desert Storm in 1991. 

In 2016, David Marshall came out of retirement and earned the rank of Corporal as a TCU police officer.

Interim Chief of Police Robert Rangel described David Marshall as having “a warrior’s spirit but a servant’s heart.”

In his career, David Marshall was professional but “was always ready with a smile and a joke,” John Marshall added.

David Marshall’s long-term partner at both the FWPD and TCUPD, Lt. Kevin Foster, said he would find the bright side of things when situations were unpleasant, recalling how David Marshall was cracking jokes over the phone and texting positive messages while in the hospital.

Assistant Professor of Military Science Maj. Edward Carr remembered David Marshall for his positive presence in an email to Rangel Tuesday.

“He assisted with several ROTC events and was always a joy to have around and talk to when training was slow,” wrote Carr in the email. “If he was working at 0530 in the morning, he could always be counted on to show up and unlock the gates to the track with a smile and a warm ‘How you guys doing this morning’.” 

The TCU flag is lowered to half-staff in honor of David Marshall’s service to TCU.

“He really cared about TCU and the TCU students and staff. He liked being there,” John Marshall said.

A celebration of life will be held Thursday, May 6, at 7:30 pm at the Fort Worth Police & Fire Fighters Memorial at 2201 West 7th Street.