William Strong

Provo Police Department — Provo, UT

Felonious

End of Watch June 26, 1899

Age 59

Tour of Duty 30 yrs

The Vigil Panel 15 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

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: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 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

Department Provo Police Department

Location Provo, UT

Platform Identity ppd.utah.ut.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 26, 1899

Tour of Duty 30 yrs

Age 59

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .38 caliber

Offender Sentenced to life at hard labor

Police Officer William Strong is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 6.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

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.

Provo Police Department

of 5 officers

60% Felonious

UT — Statewide

of 138 officers

60.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious