Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief Bishop was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man suspected of stealing war bonds. He was shot as he walked into a cafe where the man had been located. The suspect was a parolee from the California Department of Corrections. The suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. In 1944 the Louisiana Supreme Court reversed the sentence. Chief Bishop was served 21 years as a law enforcement officer.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, three daughters and two sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-LA-F06793BF- 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
21 years. You could have gone home.
Chief of Police Bishop gave the Oakdale Police Department 21 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Oakdale community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Bishop.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police William Henry Bishop 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 LA, 364 of 595 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.2% of this state's fallen. That is 7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Oakdale Police Department, 2 of 3 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 Henry Bishop's cause is highlighted.
How William Henry Bishop Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to death
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Henry Bishop is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Henry Bishop was killed by handgun; .22 caliber.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Oakdale Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
