William H. Butler

Bartlesville Police Department — Bartlesville, OK

Felonious

End of Watch January 5, 1915

The Vigil Panel 29 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 5

Incident

Patrolman Butler was shot and killed while he and his partner attempted to arrest two armed robbery suspects. A prostitute had informed the officers that the two men were in her place of business. When the officers arrived at the location they separated the two suspects to question them. Patrolman Butler searched the man he was guarding, but failed to locate a gun the man had concealed. As Patrolman Butler re-entered the other room the second suspect suddenly pulled a gun but Patrolman Butler shot him before the suspect could fire. The first suspect then ran back into the room and started firing at the officers with the gun he had concealed. One of the rounds struck Patrolman Butler in the side. The two suspects fled but the suspect Patrolman Butler shot died a short time later. The other suspect was apprehended in Smeltertown on April 7, 1917. He was charged with Patrolman Butler's murder and several robberies. Patrolman Butler was taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son and daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OK-390D73A9
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.
Patrolman Butler served with the Bartlesville Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Bartlesville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Butler.

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

Agency

Department Bartlesville Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Bartlesville, OK

Platform Identity bpd.washington.ok.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 5, 1915

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Patrolman William H. 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 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 Bartlesville Police Department, 5 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 83.3% of this agency's fallen.

Bartlesville Police Department

of 6 officers

83.3% Felonious

OK — Statewide

403

of 582 officers

69.2% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious