William E. Plank

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service — Washington, DC

Felonious

End of Watch July 23, 1914

The Vigil Panel 29 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 312

Incident

Deputy Marshal Plank and Deputy Marshal Holmes Davidson were shot and killed in Tulsa, Oklahoma, while attempting to serve a search warrant on the former Tulsa police chief who had been convicted of violating prohibition laws. When the marshals arrived at the home the man's wife refused to let them in. As the wife delayed the officers the suspect loaded a double-barrelled shotgun and opened fire through the screen door, fatally wounding Deputy Marshal Davidson. He then fired a second shot and killed Deputy Marshal Plank. The suspect reloaded and fired at the third marshal, who was retreating. The suspect then called the police and turned himself in. The 44-year-old ex-chief was convicted in 1917 of two counts of manslaughter and sentenced to four years. He was released in 1921. On October 17, 1923, he was found dead in his Tulsa home from a stroke from what doctors said was caused by excessive drinking.

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Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Plank served with the United States Department of Justice.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy U.S. Marshal Plank.

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

Agency

Department United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service

Type Federal Agency

Location Washington, DC

Platform Identity usms.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 23, 1914

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun

Deputy U.S. Marshal William E. Plank is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,586 officers honored here.

In DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 0.8 percentage points below the national rate of 53.9%.

At United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service, 251 of 313 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80.2% of this agency's fallen.

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service

251

of 313 officers

80.2% Felonious

DC — Statewide

754

of 1,419 officers

53.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,559

of 32,586 officers

53.9% Felonious