Roll of Honor
William J. O'Leary
Incident
Assistant William Chief O'Leary was shot and killed while struggling with a suspect in front of a grocery store. There were no witnesses to the shooting and suspects were immediately identified. Approximately one month later a prisoner committed suicide and left a note stating he had killed Assistant Chief O'Leary. The note identified the location of the murder weapon, which later was linked to the bullets recovered from Assistant Chief O'Leary's body.
Survivors
Assistant Chief O'Leary had been with the agency for only five months and was survived by three sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-C7475FB6- 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.
Assistant Chief of Police O'Leary served with the Big Spring Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Big Spring community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Assistant Chief of Police O'Leary.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Assistant Chief of Police William J. O'Leary 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 Big Spring Police Department, 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William J. O'Leary's cause is highlighted.
How William J. O'Leary Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William J. O'Leary is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William J. O'Leary was killed by gun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Big Spring Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
