Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Frank Twombley was shot and killed while attempting to stop a speeding motorist around 11 p.m. Deputy Twombley was riding his police motorcycle and had sped up to the driver's side door. The driver of the vehicle shot him off of the motorcycle. The suspect turned out to be a robber who had just stolen $123 from the bridge tender on the Oregon end of the interstate bridge leading to Vancouver, Washington. The 24-year-old suspect was arrested, convicted of murder, and sentenced to life. On November 7, 1934, he escaped from prison. On February 18, 1935, he was arrested in Salt Lake City, Utah, along with a Idaho prison escapee for the attempted robbery of the Denver and Rio Grande Mail Train. Later that year he was convicted of the robbery attempt and sentenced to 25 years in Alcatraz. In July of 1945 he was charged with attempted escape and received another five years in Alcatraz. He put on a army uniform, boarded a ferry, and made it all the way to the mainland before being discovered. He told everyone on the ferry he was doing special work for the army at Alcatraz. Prison officials said his was the best escape attempt ever from Alcatraz. He died in California in 1979.
Survivors
Deputy Twombley was survived by his wife and child.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OR-0EA55CE9- 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 Twombley served with the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Portland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Twombley.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Frank Walter Twombley 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 OR, 115 of 197 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58.4% of this state's fallen. That is 58.4 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Multnomah County Sheriff's Office, 9 of 10 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 90% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Frank Walter Twombley's cause is highlighted.
How Frank Walter Twombley Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Frank Walter Twombley is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Frank Walter Twombley was killed by gun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
9 officers from Multnomah County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
