Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Rather was shot and killed while questioning several suspects. He and another officer approached a vehicle occupied by two men and a woman. One of the men exited the vehicle and shot Officer Rather in the chest. He was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
The shooter was eventually apprehended, convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to death. His sentence was later commuted to life. He was released on April 1, 1949.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-OK-05CF2F60- 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.
Officer Rather gave the Westville Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Westville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Rather.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer Thomas Henry Rather 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 OK, 403 of 582 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.2% of this state's fallen. That is 69.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas Henry Rather's cause is highlighted.
How Thomas Henry Rather Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas Henry Rather is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Westville Police Department are honored on badge.nw.