Roll of Honor

Prev Next

Officer

Thomas Henry Rather

Westville Police Department — Westville, OK

Felonious

End of Watch February 25, 1927

Age 48

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

The Vigil Panel 52 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Officer Rather was shot and killed while questioning several suspects. He and another officer approached a vehicle occupied by two men and a woman. One of the men exited the vehicle and shot Officer Rather in the chest. He was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

The shooter was eventually apprehended, convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to death. His sentence was later commuted to life. He was released on April 1, 1949.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OK-05CF2F60
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 Thomas. 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.
Officer Rather gave the Westville Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Westville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Rather.

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

Agency

Department Westville Police Department

Location Westville, OK

Platform Identity wpd.adair.ok.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 25, 1927

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

Age 48

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Officer Thomas Henry Rather 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 OK, 403 of 582 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.2% of this state's fallen. That is 15 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Westville Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

OK — Statewide

403

of 582 officers

69.2% 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. Thomas Henry Rather'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 Thomas Henry Rather Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas Henry Rather is highlighted in Feb.

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.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518