Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Curtiss and Deputy Jefferson Beard were shot and killed during a workers strike at the local docks. Several hundred citizens had been deputized because of the fear of violence. When a boat of strikers arrived it was ordered not to dock, but did so anyway. When the occupants were ordered to not disembark gunfire erupted and both Deputy Beard and Deputy Curtiss, one of the deputized citizens, were fatally wounded. The Sheriff was also shot and wounded. Although the exact circumstances are unknown because county records have since been destroyed, it is thought that both deputies were struck by friendly fire. Deputy Curtiss was a member of the Washington National Guard Reserve. He was posthomously awarded the Medal of Honor for his role in the incident in which he was killed.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-WA-B157F3E1- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Curtiss served with the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Everett community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Curtiss.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Charles O. Curtiss is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In WA, 187 of 340 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55% of this state's fallen. That is 55 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Snohomish County Sheriff's Department, 3 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles O. Curtiss's cause is highlighted.
How Charles O. Curtiss Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles O. Curtiss is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charles O. Curtiss was killed by gun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Snohomish County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
