Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer William Strong was shot and killed after arresting two hobos who had just gotten off a freight train at the Union Depot in Provo. As he was walking one of the men to jail the man fled. The suspect escaped but Officer Strong located a second hobo and arrested him. The suspect produced a .38 caliber pistol near the intersection of 3rd Street and struck Officer Strong in the back of the head, knocking him down. As Officer Strong attempted to get up the man pressed the pistol against his chest and shot him in the heart, killing him. The 34-year-old suspect fled but was eventually arrested and charged with murder. He was convicted of the murder and sentenced to life at hard labor. He was denied parole in 1910 and if ever paroled he was to be turned over to Montana authorities for burglary. Officer Strong had served in various law enforcement jobs in the area for 30 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-UT-5E308837- 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
127 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Police Officer Strong gave the Provo Police Department 30 years.
Thank you for your service to the Provo community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer William Strong 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 UT, 84 of 138 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.9% of this state's fallen. That is 60.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Provo Police Department, 3 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Strong's cause is highlighted.
How William Strong Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Strong is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Strong was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Provo Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
