Roll of Honor

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Undersheriff

Orville Bitle

Rosebud County Sheriff's Office — Forsyth, MT

Felonious

End of Watch December 16, 1911

Age 36

The Vigil Panel 26 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Undersheriff Bitle was shot and killed as he attempted to arrest cattle thieves. A father and son were arrested and charged with murder. The father was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 10 years.

Survivors

Undersheriff Bitle was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MT-F821D18E
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.
Undersheriff Bitle served with the Rosebud County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Forsyth community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Undersheriff Bitle.

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

Agency

Department Rosebud County Sheriff's Office

Location Forsyth, MT

Platform Identity rcso.rosebud.mt.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 16, 1911

Age 36

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Sentenced to 10 years

Undersheriff Orville Bitle 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 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 11.3 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Rosebud County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Rosebud County Sheriff's Office

of 2 officers

100% Felonious

MT — Statewide

of 142 officers

65.5% 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. Orville Bitle'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 Orville Bitle Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to 10 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Orville Bitle is highlighted in Dec.

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. Orville Bitle 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

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Rosebud County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.