Incident
Deputy Collector William Fowler was shot and killed while sitting at his desk on Austin Street in Jefferson.
The subject was arrested and claimed that he killed Collector Fowler in self-defense. But the evidence indicated that Collector Fowler was shot in the back of his head with a pen in his hand. Speculation was that the subject was embezzling taxes and wanted to silence Collector Fowler when he uncovered the crime.
The subject was released on bond but died before the case could go to trial.
Collector Fowler was a Civil War veteran and served with the United States Department of the Treasury - Office of Internal Revenue, assigned to the Fourth District.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two sisters, and two brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-6EC60815- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Deputy Collector Fowler served with the United States Department of the Treasury.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
William Henry Fowler served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Deputy Collector William Henry Fowler 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 97,759 officers honored here.
In DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 53.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At United States Department of the Treasury - Office of Internal Revenue, 25 of 27 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 92.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Henry Fowler's cause is highlighted.
How William Henry Fowler Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Henry Fowler is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Incident Location
Military Service
William Henry Fowler served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Visit William Henry Fowler’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
26 officers from United States Department of the Treasury - Office of Internal Revenue are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.







