End of Watch May 4, 1919
The Vigil Panel 37 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Location: Oklahoma Weapon: Rifle; .30-.30 Offender: Acquitted

Officer William Miller and Field Inspector Bill Mayes, of the Texas and Southwestern Cattles Raisers Association, were shot and killed while raiding a still in near Sherwood, McCurtain County, Oklahoma.

Both officers were shot in the back from ambush as they searched for a still. The man who shot them later turned himself in and was eventually acquitted of murder charges.

Officer Miller and Field Inspector Mayes were both buried together in an unmarked grave at Holly Creek.

Officer Miller was survived by his wife.

Survivors

Officer Miller was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-8967C4C2
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.
Officer Miller served with the United States Department of the Interior.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Miller.

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

Agency

Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usdibiaojsfed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 4, 1919
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Rifle; .30-.30
Offender Acquitted

Officer William Miller 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 DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At United States Department of the Interior - Bureau of Indian Affairs - Office of Justice Services, 45 of 52 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 86.5% of this agency's fallen.

United States Department of the Interior - Bureau of Indian Affairs - Office of Justice Services
45
of 52 officers
86.5% Felonious
DC — Statewide
754
of 1,419 officers
53.1% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Miller's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How William Miller Compares

Offender Outcome

Acquitted

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Miller is highlighted in May.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Miller was killed by rifle; .30-.30.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location