Joseph A. Freshman

Butte Police Department — Butte, MT

Felonious

End of Watch September 23, 1906

Age 52

Tour of Duty 6 mo

The Vigil Panel 21 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 13

Incident

Policeman Joseph Freshman was shot and killed after a man tried to rob him as he walked his post. Policeman Freshman was walking his post when a man approached him and attempted to rob him at gunpoint. At first the suspect did not realize that he was robbing a police officer due to the poor lighting condition, but when he realized he was robbing an officer, he opened fire, killing Policeman Freshman. A subject was arrested but was later released due to insufficient evidence. Policeman Freshman had served with the Butte Police Department for six months.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MT-80BBA841
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Policeman Freshman served with the Butte Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Butte community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Policeman Freshman.

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

Agency

Department Butte Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Butte, MT

Platform Identity bpd.silverbow.mt.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 23, 1906

Tour of Duty 6 mo

Age 52

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

Policeman Joseph A. Freshman is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,586 officers honored here.

In MT, 93 of 142 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 65.5% of this state's fallen. That is 11.6 percentage points above the national rate of 53.9%.

At Butte Police Department, 10 of 14 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 71.4% of this agency's fallen.

Butte Police Department

of 14 officers

71.4% Felonious

MT — Statewide

of 142 officers

65.5% Felonious

Nationwide

17,559

of 32,586 officers

53.9% Felonious