Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman William Owens was shot and killed as he and two other officers were questioning a robbery suspect on a city sidewalk. Another officer was shot in the arm. The suspect shot the third officer, who would have probably been killed, had the bullet not been deflected off the metal badge on his hat. The suspect, 19, was sentenced to life in prison. He was paroled on December 10, 1955.
Survivors
Patrolman Owens was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-AF74FDB8- 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.
Patrolman Owens served with the Toccoa Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Toccoa community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Owens.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman William Teasley Owens 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 GA, 549 of 905 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 60.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Toccoa Police Department, 2 of 2 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 Teasley Owens's cause is highlighted.
How William Teasley Owens Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Teasley Owens is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Teasley Owens was killed by gun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Toccoa Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
