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Trooper

William James Walker

Oklahoma Highway Patrol — Oklahoma City, OK

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch February 17, 1971

Age 33

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Badge 391

The Vigil Panel 108 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 38

Incident

Trooper Bill Walker was shot and killed after arresting two men for weapons violations at the Fountainhead State Lodge park. He had been called there by park officials who requested assistance in arresting the men. Trooper Walker placed the two men in his cruiser and called for a tow truck when one of the men suddenly pulled out a concealed weapon and shot him. They also killed the park superintendent and wounded a game warden while fleeing. A massive manhunt was launched and two suspects were arrested approximately eighty-three hours later only a short distance away. Three pistols including the Trooper's service revolver, a rifle, a shotgun and ammunition were recovered. One suspect was convicted of two counts of first degree murder and sentenced to death. In 1973 his sentence was changed to life. He has a parole hearing in August of 2017. The other suspect was convicted of two counts of first degree murder and sentenced to life. In 1983 his conviction was overturned. He was retried in 1985 and acquitted, Trooper Walker has served with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol for four years and was a veteran of the United States Navy.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two sons, one brother, and two sisters and is buried in Greenlawn Cemetery in Checotah, Oklahoma.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OK-A146C45D
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.
Trooper Walker gave the Oklahoma Highway Patrol 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Oklahoma, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Oklahoma Highway Patrol

Type Highway Patrol

Location Oklahoma City, OK

Platform Identity ohp.ok.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 17, 1971

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 33

Badge Number 391

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Military Service

William James Walker served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Trooper William James Walker 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 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 Oklahoma Highway Patrol, 19 of 39 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 48.7% of this agency's fallen.

Oklahoma Highway Patrol

of 39 officers

48.7% Felonious

OK — Statewide

403

of 582 officers

69.2% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious