Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief of Police John Bockman was shot and killed while questioning a shooting suspect next to a railroad line. A railroad worker had asked the suspect and another man to leave but was shot at by the pair. When Chief Bockman arrived on the scene he ordered the man to raise his hands but was met with gunfire. Chief Bockman was able to return fire, mortally wounding the suspect before being shot in the face. The suspect received a shoulder wound and died in jail two days later. Chief Bockman was a WWI veteran and was the city's only police officer at the time.
Survivors
He had served with the Libby Police Department for three years and was survived by wife, two sons, and parents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MT-EA6CE744- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Chief of Police Bockman gave the Libby Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Libby community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
John Ferdinand Bockman served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Chief of Police John Ferdinand Bockman is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 11.3 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Ferdinand Bockman's cause is highlighted.
How John Ferdinand Bockman Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Ferdinand Bockman is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Ferdinand Bockman was killed by gun; unknown type.