Otto P. Butler
Agency patch
Federal Prohibition Agent

Otto P. Butler

Felonious
End of Watch December 10, 1929
The Vigil Panel 58 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Federal Prohibition Agent Otto Butler was shot and killed after he and another agent arrested a man in Cushing, Oklahoma, for selling liquor out of his barber shop. After the arrest Agent Butler walked into the rear of the store where he was confronted by the suspect's wife. The woman shot Agent Butler several times, who then ran to the front of the store and shot and wounded Agent Butler's partner. A passing deputy sheriff arrested the woman. Agent Butler was transported to Cushing Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The two suspects were later acquitted of all charges based on a technicality that the federal warrant was invalid.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-EA7CF5D3
Stewardship
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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.
Federal Prohibition Agent Butler served with the United States Department of the Treasury.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Federal Prohibition Agent Butler.

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

Agency

Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usdtirsbpfed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 10, 1929
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Federal Prohibition Agent Otto P. Butler 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 DC, 754 of 1,418 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.2% of this state's fallen. That is 53.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Bureau of Prohibition, 20 of 37 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 54.1% of this agency's fallen.

United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Bureau of Prohibition
20
of 37 officers
54.1% Felonious
DC — Statewide
754
of 1,418 officers
53.2% 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. Otto P. Butler's cause is highlighted.

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

How Otto P. Butler Compares

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Otto P. Butler is highlighted in Dec.

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. Otto P. Butler was killed by gun.

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