Roll of Honor
Incident
Detention Deputy William Green was shot and killed by an inmate who was attempting to escape from the county jail.
On October 18th, the suspect, who was in jail for burglarizing the Elks Club and other businesses, had a visit form his wife. When Deputy Green was taking the suspect back to his cell he produced a handgun, which was smuggled by his wife in a basket of food.
The suspect shot Deputy Green during the escape; Deputy Green died shortly after of his injuries. The suspect fled the jail and was later located by Sheriff F. E. Britt in a barn on 12th Street. Sheriff Britt found the suspect after stepping on his hand while he hid in a hay stack. The suspect was then taken into custody, and eventually had to be moved to El Paso County jail after a lynch mob had formed with the intent of hanging him.
The suspect was originally sentenced to death but the sentenced was commuted to life in prison by Colorado Governor Oliver Shoup. The suspect died two years later, to the day, in the Colorado State Penitentiary located in Canon City; the cause of his death is not known at this time.
Deputy Green had served with the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office for 25 years and had retired, working for the county as Jailer at the time of his death.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CO-B51CD251- 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
25 years. You could have gone home.
Detention Deputy Green gave the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office 25 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Pueblo community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detention Deputy Green.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detention Deputy William Wesley Green 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 CO, 235 of 360 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 65.3% of this state's fallen. That is 65.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Pueblo County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 40% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Wesley Green's cause is highlighted.
How William Wesley Green Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Wesley Green is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Wesley Green was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Pueblo County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
