W. J. McFadden
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

W. J. McFadden

Felonious
End of Watch August 23, 1913
The Vigil Panel 28 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff W.J. McFadden was shot and killed in Grace, Idaho, by a man he attempted to arrest on a charge of bootlegging.

The suspect was apprehended three days later in Cobre, Nevada. Six weeks later he was convicted of Deputy McFadden's murder and sentenced to life. On May 23rd, 1914, he was shot and killed when he attempted to escape from the Idaho Penitentiary.

Deputy McFadden was survived by his wife and two children.

Survivors

Deputy McFadden was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-ID-912AD371
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.
Deputy Sheriff McFadden served with the Bannock County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Pocatello community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff McFadden.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Pocatello, Bannock County, ID
Platform Identity bcso.bannock.id.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 23, 1913
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun; Revolver

Deputy Sheriff W. J. McFadden 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 ID, 44 of 71 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62% of this state's fallen. That is 62 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Bannock County Sheriff's Department, 3 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Bannock County Sheriff's Department
3
of 3 officers
100% Felonious
ID — Statewide
44
of 71 officers
62% 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. W. J. McFadden's cause is highlighted.

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

How W. J. McFadden Compares

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. W. J. McFadden is highlighted in Aug.

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. W. J. McFadden was killed by handgun; revolver.

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

2 officers from Bannock County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.