William Douglas Oyler

Buena Vista Police Department — Buena Vista, VA

Felonious

End of Watch January 8, 1982

Age 39

The Vigil Panel 125 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 3

Incident

Lieutenant William Oyler was shot and killed while responding to a report of shots fired into a house at Locust Avenue and 33rd Street. When he arrived at the scene, he was shot in the neck by a person who was hiding in a wooded area next to the house. Lieutenant Oyler had not even exited his cruiser when he was shot. The shooter was convicted of murder and sentenced to 53 years in prison.

Survivors

Lieutenant Oyler is survived by his wife, son, and three daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-VA-9883B76A
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.
Lieutenant Oyler served with the Buena Vista Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Buena Vista community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Oyler.

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

Agency

Department Buena Vista Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Buena Vista, VA

Platform Identity bvpd.buenavista.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 8, 1982

Age 39

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

Lieutenant William Douglas Oyler 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 VA, 394 of 656 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.1% of this state's fallen. That is 60.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Buena Vista 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.

Buena Vista Police Department

of 4 officers

75% Felonious

VA — Statewide

394

of 656 officers

60.1% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious