Roll of Honor
William Leopold Cotter
Incident
Officer William Cotter was stabbed to death as 13 prisoners escaped from the Folsom Penitentiary. The prisoners, who were armed with knives and razors, attacked the prison staff. They stabbed and killed Officer Cotter and seriously wounded several other guards and the Warden. The suspects then took the officer's guns and escaped from the prison by using the prison guards as shields as they fled. Two suspects were shot and killed during the ensuing manhunt. The remaining 11 were arrested and returned to prison. Two were executed for the murder, and one committed suicide in his cell. Two members of the state militia were also shot and killed during the manhunt. Officer Cotter had served with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for at least eight years, assigned to Folsom Penitentiary.
Survivors
He was survived by his son and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-8E7A288F- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew William. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Cotter gave the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of California. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Cotter.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer William Leopold Cotter 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 CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 53 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, 30 of 42 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 71.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Leopold Cotter's cause is highlighted.
How William Leopold Cotter Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Leopold Cotter is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Leopold Cotter was killed by edged weapon.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
41 officers from California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
