Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief of Police Ben Williams was shot and killed by a notorious outlaw known as the Apache Kid. The outlaw and his gang were also responsible for the murders of Sheriff Glenn Reynolds and Deputy William Holmes, of the Gila County Sheriff's Office, in 1889 and of Deputy Sheriff Jake Bowman of the Cochise County Sheriff's Office in 1893. The exact date that Chief Williams was murdered in 1890 is not known. The Apache Kid was a former sergeant of the U.S. Army's Indian Scouts who assisted General George Crook in the capture of Geronimo. He was later charged with desertion and murder following a drunken riot in which several Indians were killed. In 1888, he was sent to Alcatraz, but his conviction was overturned one year later. Soon afterward, he and several other Indians were re-arrested and again convicted of the charges. While being transported to the Yuma Territorial Prison, they escaped, resulting in the murders of Sheriff Glenn Reynolds and Deputy William Holmes. For the next five years, the Apache Kid and his fellow warriors went along the U.S.-Mexican border, committing murders and other crimes along both sides of the border. The Apache Kid mysteriously disappeared in 1894.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AZ-83B869A4- 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
136 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Chief of Police Williams served with the Bisbee Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Bisbee community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police Ben Williams 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 Bisbee Police Department, 3 of 3 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. Ben Williams's cause is highlighted.
How Ben Williams Compares
Offender Outcome
Not available
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ben Williams is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ben Williams was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Bisbee Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
