William Leopold Cotter

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation — Sacramento, CA

Felonious

End of Watch July 27, 1903

Age 54

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

The Vigil Panel 18 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 41

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

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Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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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

Department California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

Location Sacramento, CA

Platform Identity cdcrcorr.sacramento.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 27, 1903

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

Age 54

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Edged weapon

Offender Two shot and killed

Officer William Leopold Cotter is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

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.

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

of 42 officers

71.4% Felonious

CA — Statewide

974

of 1,837 officers

53% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious