Roll of Honor
Paul Albro Read
Incident
Special Agent Paul Read was shot and killed in the 300 block of Woody Street in Missoula, Montana while attempting to speak to a known liquor dealer. He located the man in his car in the 300 block of Woody Street and jumped onto the vehicle's running board. The man opened fire on Agent Read, fatally wounding him. The shooting occurred almost in front of the courthouse and the gunshots were heard by several other officers who were nearby. The man who shot Agent Read was arrested at the scene and one gallon of moonshine whiskey was found in his vehicle. The subject claimed that he fired in self-defense after Special Agent Read pulled his gun first. However, Agent Read had a practice of not carrying his gun and it was found locked in the glove box of his vehicle parked a block away. The subject was sentenced to death, but the sentence was later commuted to life in prison. Special Agent Read had served with the Bureau of Prohibition for eight years and had previously served with the Shoshone County Sheriff's Office in Idaho.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-60C705B3- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Special Agent Read gave the United States Department of Justice 8 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Read.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Agent Paul Albro Read 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 DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At United States Department of Justice - Bureau of Prohibition, 22 of 35 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Paul Albro Read's cause is highlighted.
How Paul Albro Read Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to death
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Paul Albro Read is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Paul Albro Read was killed by handgun; revolver.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
34 officers from United States Department of Justice - Bureau of Prohibition are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
