Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Orson McRae was shot and killed while rounding up striking miners. He had been sworn in as a deputy the day before and on the morning of the deportation, he joined a posse of five deputies who were assigned to pick up striking miners from rooming houses. Deputy McRae was unarmed when he forced his way into a boarding house room. After shooting the deputy, the other posse members returned fire and killed the subject.
Survivors
Deputy McRae was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AZ-283EDE2B- 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.
Deputy Sheriff McRae served with the Cochise County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Bisbee community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff McRae.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Orson McRae 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 AZ, 204 of 330 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 7.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Cochise County Sheriff's Department, 14 of 15 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 93.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Orson McRae's cause is highlighted.
How Orson McRae Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Orson McRae is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Orson McRae was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
14 officers from Cochise County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
