Victor Butler, Jr.
Agency patch
Sergeant

Victor Butler, Jr.

Miami Police Department — Miami, FL
Felonious Veteran
End of Watch February 20, 1971
Age 45
Tour of Duty 20 yrs
Badge 688
The Vigil Panel 108 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sergeant Victor Butler was shot and killed in an ambush outside of an apartment building at 1336 NW 46th Street. He and his partner had been called to the building on a domestic disturbance call just before the end of their shift. As Sergeant Butler exited the building he was struck in the chest by a shot fired from a passing car. It is believed that he was killed by members of a radical racist group. On October 19th, 1978, two 2y-year-old men were arrested and charged with his murder. One was in Raiford Prison serving a term for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The other suspect was arrested at his home in Dade County. The arrest was based on information from a man who said he drove the car that the suspects were in when they shot Sergeant Butler. As the suspects' trial was about to begin, the driver sent police a tape saying he lied about everything. He was arrested and charged with Sergeant Butler's murder. In 1980 charges were dismissed against all three due to a lack of evidence. Officer Butler was a WWII veteran and had served with the Miami Police Department for 20 years. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-DFEC635E
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.
Sergeant Butler gave the Miami Police Department 20 years.
Thank you for your service to the Miami community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Location Miami, FL
Platform Identity mpd.miamidade.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 20, 1971
Tour of Duty 20 yrs
Age 45
Badge Number 688
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender At large

Military Service

Victor Butler, Jr. served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Sergeant Victor Butler, Jr. 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 FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 0.7 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Miami Police Department, 20 of 39 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 51.3% of this agency's fallen.

Miami Police Department
20
of 39 officers
51.3% Felonious
FL — Statewide
539
of 1,008 officers
53.5% 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. Victor Butler, Jr.'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 Victor Butler, Jr. Compares

Age at End of Watch
45
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
20
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

At large

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Victor Butler, Jr. is highlighted in Feb.

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. Victor Butler, Jr. was killed by gun; unknown type.

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

Incident Location