Roll of Honor
Incident
Undersheriff Bitle was shot and killed as he attempted to arrest cattle thieves. A father and son were arrested and charged with murder. The father was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 10 years.
Survivors
Undersheriff Bitle was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MT-F821D18E- 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.
Undersheriff Bitle served with the Rosebud County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Forsyth community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Undersheriff Bitle.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Undersheriff Orville Bitle 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 Rosebud County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 2 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. Orville Bitle's cause is highlighted.
How Orville Bitle Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Orville Bitle is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Orville Bitle was killed by gun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Rosebud County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
