Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Willis Sheppard was fatally shot by the brother of a subject he had just arrested for being drunk in public in an area of Bartlesville known as Smeltertown.
He had taken the subject to jail and was returning to the area when he countered the man on West Fourteenth Street.
The man who shot him was later arrested, tried, and acquitted. On March 6, 1929, he was arrested in Port Arthur, Texas. He admitted to officials there that he murdered Deputy Sheppard. According to Oklahoma law he could not be charged a second time.
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BO-US-OK-355E9A57- Stewardship
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- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Sheppard served with the Washington County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Bartlesville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Sheppard.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Willis Sheppard 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 OK, 403 of 582 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.2% of this state's fallen. That is 69.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Washington County Sheriff's Office, 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. Willis Sheppard's cause is highlighted.
How Willis Sheppard Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Willis Sheppard is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Willis Sheppard was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Washington County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
