John H. Gaines (c.1863–1913): Duty, injustice, and a legacy Austin chose to remember. “He wore the badge but was denied equal authority - and still answered the call.”

One of the things we love so much about living in the Mueller neighborhood is the parks. No doubt you’ve noticed that several of the parks in Mueller are named after people (as opposed to say, Lake Park), but you may not be aware of the stories behind those names. We feel it’s important to spotlight these people because they weren’t just names, they were people who made a difference in Austin and deserve to have their legacy repeated, not just their names.

For this article, we’re going to focus on the namesake of one of Mueller’s most used and beloved parks/pools/community gardens: John H. Gaines.

The Man

John H. Gaines was Austin’s first Black police officer. While his exact date of birth is unclear, it’s believed he was born in 1863 in Big Spring, Texas. By the 1890's he was working in law enforcement, eventually becoming Austin's first Black police officer.

On November 19, 1913, while responding to a disturbance at East 6th & Trinity, Gaines confronted a white deputy constable, George Booth, who was reportedly drunk. Because of a racist policy then in force, Black officers were barred from arresting white suspects, so Gaines had to call for a white officer to make the arrest. As he used a nearby telephone to summon help, Booth shot and killed him. Gaines was 50 and left behind his wife, Sarah; he is remembered as the department’s first African American officer to die in the line of duty. Booth was later convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to two years in prison. 

Read more about Gains and other APD officers we’ve lost in the line of duty. 

Impact on Austin

Gaines’s killing exposed the lethal contradictions of Jim Crow–era policing in Texas: he wore the badge, risked his life for public safety, yet was legally constrained from doing his job when the suspect was white. The story of his death - recounted in department histories and memorial projects - has become a touchstone for how Austin acknowledges and teaches its own history. A memorial marker stands near the site at 401 E. 6th Street, and the Austin Police Department has incorporated his story into public remembrances and educational outreach, ensuring new generations learn what he faced and why it matters.

Why a Park in Mueller Bears His Name

In 2016, the city opened John Gaines Park in Mueller - over three acres featuring a community pool with lap lanes and a children’s wading pool, a unique playscape, a large open lawn, and one of Austin’s most active community gardens with about 132 plots, composting, a covered work area, and a shared tool shed. The park’s daily life - swim lessons, kids at play, neighbors tending garden beds - embodies the civic good that Gaines served, while the name itself is a public reckoning with an injustice that cost him his life. It’s both tribute and lesson: a welcoming neighborhood space that asks us to remember who kept the peace, under rules that denied him equal authority. 

Check out the story KVUE ran when the park opened. We can’t believe that was almost 10 years ago!

Key Dates & Facts 

• c. 1863 - Birth of John H. Gaines (approx.).

• 1890s–1913 -Serves in Austin law enforcement; becomes the city’s first Black police officer.

• Nov 19, 1913 - Killed in the line of duty at E. 6th & Trinity while constrained by Jim Crow–era policy barring Black officers from arresting white suspects.

• 1914–2010s - Remembered in departmental histories and community memory; case cited as emblematic of the era’s inequities.

• 2014 - Downtown memorial marker placed near the incident site.

• 2016-John Gaines Park opens in Mueller, honoring his service and sacrifice.
  
  

Park at a Glance: John Gaines Park (Mueller)

• Location: 2708 Sorin Street, Mueller, Austin, TX

• What you’ll find:

  • Community pool with lap lanes + kids’ wading pool

  • Playscape and shady seating

  • Large lawn for picnics and pickup games

  • Active community garden (~132 plots) with composting, covered work area, and shared tools

• Good for: Families, swim lessons, meet-ups, picnics, learning about Austin history through place

• Respectful Remembrance: This is a living memorial to Officer Gaines; a great spot to talk with kids about service, fairness, and how communities choose to remember.

• While you’re nearby: Loop the Southwest Greenway, grab a treat at one of Mueller’s many eateries, or check the Mueller Calendar for events.

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📞 Looking to Become Part of the Mueller Community?

We here at Mueller Residential Group love this neighborhood so much we decided to live AND work here, and there's nothing we want more than great neighbors! If you're interested in moving to, within, or sadly out of Mueller, we're here for you! Give us a call at (512) 829-1351 or shoot us an email hello@muellerresidentialgroup.com.