William A. Bourland

Fort Smith Police Department — Fort Smith, AR

Felonious

End of Watch September 2, 1931

Age 51

The Vigil Panel 62 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 11

Incident

Captain Bourland and Patrolman Ralph Howard were shot and killed during a shootout of several armed robbery suspects. They began to chase the car down Spiro Highway and chased them onto Towson Avenue where they ran it off the road near South Y Street. A shootout ensued and Captain Bourland, Patrolman Howard, and all three suspects were shot. One of the suspects died at the scene. Captain Bourland was shot in the head, and twice in the chest. He was pronounced dead at St. Edward Hospital. Patrolman Howard was struck in neck, chest, and both hands. He succumbed to his wounds two days later. The two surviving suspects were taken into custody. Both were sentenced to life in prison but the sentence of one of the suspects was commuted and he was paroled.

Survivors

Captain Bourland was survived by his wife, son and three daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AR-A6A92460
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

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Captain Bourland served with the Fort Smith Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Fort Smith community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Captain Bourland.

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

Agency

Department Fort Smith Police Department

Location Fort Smith, AR

Platform Identity fortpd.sebastian.ar.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 2, 1931

Age 51

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Shot and killed

Captain William A. Bourland 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 AR, 249 of 372 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.9% of this state's fallen. That is 12.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Fort Smith Police Department, 8 of 12 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.

Fort Smith Police Department

of 12 officers

66.7% Felonious

AR — Statewide

249

of 372 officers

66.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious