Roll of Honor
William Mayes
Incident
Location: Oklahoma Weapon: Rifle; .30-.30 Offender: Not available
Field Inspector Bill Mayes and Officer William Miller, of the United States Department of Indian Affairs, were shot and killed while raiding a still in near Sherwood, McCurtain County, Oklahoma.
Both officers were shot in the back from ambush as they searched for a still. The man who shot them later turned himself in and was eventually acquitted of murder charges.
Officer Miller and Field Inspector Mayes were both buried together in an unmarked grave at Holly Creek.
Inspector Mayes was survived by his wife and two children.
Survivors
Inspector Mayes was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-59272BEF- 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.
Field Inspector Mayes served with the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.
Thank you for your service to the Fort Worth community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Field Inspector Mayes.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Field Inspector William Mayes 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 TX, 1,461 of 2,422 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 60.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, 4 of 4 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 Mayes's cause is highlighted.
How William Mayes Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Mayes is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Mayes was killed by rifle; .30-.30.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association are honored on badge.nw.
