Roll of Honor

Prev Next

Deputy Sheriff

William E. Tipton

Portales Police Department — Portales, NM

Felonious

End of Watch April 25, 1907

The Vigil Panel 21 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Tipton was shot and killed by another officer who had been drinking. When Deputy Tipton asked the other officer to surrender his gun he drew the weapon and struck Deputy Tipton with it. Deputy Tipton was able to knock the gun from the other officer but in a struggle the suspect was able to gain control of Deputy Tipton's firearm and shot him. The suspect was acquitted at trial of the crime.

Survivors

Deputy Tipton was survived by his wife and six children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NM-8D7ECA09
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew William. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Tipton served with the Portales Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Portales community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Tipton.

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

Agency

Department Portales Police Department

Location Portales, NM

Platform Identity ppd.roosevelt.nm.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 25, 1907

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Acquitted

Deputy Sheriff William E. Tipton 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 NM, 123 of 193 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.7% of this state's fallen. That is 9.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Portales Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

NM — Statewide

123

of 193 officers

63.7% 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. William E. Tipton'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 William E. Tipton Compares

Offender Outcome

Acquitted

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William E. Tipton is highlighted in Apr.

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. William E. Tipton was killed by officer's handgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518