Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief Murphy was killed in a struggle with a man he was attempting to arrest. Chief Murphy was attempting to subdue a man with a gun at the Montana Power Company when he struck his head on the marble floor. Chief Murphy died as a result of his injuries. The suspect was only convicted of carrying a concealed weapon and sentenced to 30 days in jail.
Survivors
Chief Murphy had served with the Butte Police Department for 42 years and was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MT-4DA98756- 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
42 years. You could have gone home.
Chief of Police Murphy gave the Butte Police Department 42 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Butte community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Murphy.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police Jeremiah Joseph Murphy 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 MT, 93 of 142 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 65.5% of this state's fallen. That is 65.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Butte Police Department, 10 of 14 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 71.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Jeremiah Joseph Murphy's cause is highlighted.
How Jeremiah Joseph Murphy Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jeremiah Joseph Murphy is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Jeremiah Joseph Murphy was killed by person.
Others Who Wore This Badge
13 officers from Butte Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
