Robert Bruce Butler

United States Air Force Security Forces — JBSA-Lackland, TX

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch January 10, 1998

Age 34

Tour of Duty 13 yrs

The Vigil Panel 144 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 40

Incident

Technical Sergeant Robert Butler was shot and killed after stopping the vehicle of a serviceman who had killed another serviceman moments earlier. The incident occurred on Edwards Air Force Base in Kern County, California. At the time, Sergeant Butler did not know the driver was a suspect in the murder. He stopped the vehicle for running a stop sign and driving erratically. During the stop, Sergeant Butler called for backup for a possible DUI. The first officer on the scene observed the suspect vehicle speeding away and Sergeant Butler lying on the ground. CPR was started, but the officer was unable to revive him. The suspect was found dead in a dormitory common area at approximately 7:00 am from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Sergeant Butler was assigned to the 95th Security Forces Squadron.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-FED-2AD93AB1
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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Technical Sergeant Butler gave the United States Air Force Security Forces 13 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department United States Air Force Security Forces

Location JBSA-Lackland, TX

Platform Identity usafsffed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 10, 1998

Tour of Duty 13 yrs

Age 34

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Committed suicide

Military Service

Robert Bruce Butler served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Technical Sergeant Robert Bruce Butler 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 TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At United States Air Force Security Forces, 13 of 41 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 31.7% of this agency's fallen.

United States Air Force Security Forces

of 41 officers

31.7% Felonious

TX — Statewide

1,463

of 2,421 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious