Oscar Theodore Peterson
Agency patch
Police Officer

Oscar Theodore Peterson

Poplar Police Department — Poplar, MT
Felonious
End of Watch November 18, 1950
Age 53
The Vigil Panel 86 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Peterson was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man for driving on a revoked license. Officer Peterson, with another Poplar officer and a Sioux tribal police officer, observed the man driving the vehicle and attempted to stop him. The driver led the officers on a pursuit until the officers shot out one of his tires, causing the vehicle to overturn. The suspect exited the vehicle and opened fire on the officers with a .30-.30 rifle, killing Officer Peterson. The man then committed suicide.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MT-2D4F9701
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.
Police Officer Peterson served with the Poplar Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Poplar community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Peterson.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Poplar, MT
Platform Identity ppd.roosevelt.mt.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 18, 1950
Age 53
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Rifle

Police Officer Oscar Theodore Peterson 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%.

Poplar Police Department
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
MT — Statewide
93
of 142 officers
65.5% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Oscar Theodore Peterson's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Oscar Theodore Peterson Compares

Age at Death
53
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Oscar Theodore Peterson is highlighted in Nov.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Oscar Theodore Peterson was killed by rifle.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from Poplar Police Department are honored on badge.nw.