Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Owens succumbed to injuries received the previous day when he was assaulted during an escape attempt. He had taken a prisoner outside of the state penitentiary in Lansing, Kansas, to do survey work. In an attempt to escape, the inmate struck Officer Owens in the chest, causing internal bleeding and triggering a heart attack. The suspect, sent to prison in 1903 for stealing a car, was taken into custody and charged with Officer Owens' murder. In February of 1906 he was tried and acquitted.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KS-28E4BE57- 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.
Correctional Officer Owens served with the Kansas Department of Corrections.
Thank you for your service to the people of Kansas. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Correctional Officer Owens.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Correctional Officer William H. Owens 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 KS, 237 of 335 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70.7% of this state's fallen. That is 16.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Kansas Department of Corrections, 8 of 12 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William H. Owens's cause is highlighted.
How William H. Owens Compares
Offender Outcome
Acquitted
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William H. Owens is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William H. Owens was killed by person.
Others Who Wore This Badge
11 officers from Kansas Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw.
