Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff William Beasley was shot and killed while he and other deputies were setting up a sting on a bank in the Red Fork area of Tulsa. The Tulsa County sheriff had received a tip that the bank would be robbed, so he and four deputies set up an ambush. Deputy Beasley was inside a barn across the street from the bank. When the suspects exited the bank after robbing it they were ordered to put their hands up. Instead, the suspects began to shoot. Officers and citizens returned fire, fatally wounding two of three suspects. When the deputies returned to the scene, they realized that Deputy Beasley was missing. The sheriff returned to the scene and found Deputy Beasley in the barn, having died from a bullet wound. It is thought that he was struck by a stray bullet fired by a citizen during the shootout. Deputy Beasley had served with the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office for nine months and previously served with the Tulsa Police Department, Bartlesville Police Department (Oklahoma), and as law enforcement officer in California.
Survivors
He was survived by his five children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OK-3708250D- 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 Beasley gave the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Tulsa community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Beasley.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff William Thomas Beasley 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%.
At Tulsa County Sheriff's Office, 8 of 11 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Thomas Beasley's cause is highlighted.
How William Thomas Beasley Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Thomas Beasley is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Thomas Beasley was killed by gun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
10 officers from Tulsa County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
