Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff William Ford was shot and killed as he attempted to stop four escaped prisoners. Deputy Ford, his partner, and an ex-prison guard who was with them, were alerted that the escape was taking place at the Oklahoma State Prison and intercepted the four escapees leaving in a vehicle, holding Warden Jess Dunn hostage. A gun battle ensued and Deputy Ford was shot in the head and killed. Warden Dunn, and three of the suspects were also shot and killed.
The fourth suspect was serving a life sentence for the murder of Night Watchman Elijah C. Smith of the Byars Police Department on June 27, 1937. He was convicted of Warden Dunn's murder and executed in the electric chair on July 14, 1943.
One of the suspects who was killed was serving a life sentence for murdering Prison Guard Charles D. Powell at the same prison during a mass escape attempt on May 13, 1936.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OK-8DAC1851- 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 Ford gave the Pittsburg County Sheriff's Office 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the McAlester community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Ford.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff William A. Ford 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 Pittsburg County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William A. Ford's cause is highlighted.
How William A. Ford Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William A. Ford is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Pittsburg County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
