Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief Bolton died of a gunshot wound he received while attempting to stop six inmates from escaping from the jail. As Chief Bolton reached for his weapon, he was shot in the face. He died two days later from his wounds.
Just before the escape, the wife one of the escapees slipped him a pistol during a visit. He forced a jailer to give him access to a room where he and the others he liberated took shotguns, pistols, and a machine gun. One shot Chief Bolton in the face with a shotgun as they left the jail. As they ran down a nearby ally the Muskogee police chief shot and killed one. The other five forced a local minister from his car and fled with the car out of town. The wife of one of the five was arrested and jailed.
The next day officers trapped two escapees in a cabin in a mountain area near Muskogee. Both opened fire. The officers returned fire killing one and wounded the other. The one killed was the woman's husband and Chief Bolton's killer. A day later officers cornered the other three. They were forced to kill one and the other two surrendered.
The three surviving escapees were charged with murder. On December 10, 1935, two were convicted of two counts of bank robbery and sentenced to 45 years each in Leavenworth. In January of 1926 the same two were convicted of Chief Bolton's murder and sentenced to 99 years each. The escapee's wife who slipped him the pistol that started all the trouble was also charged with murder and aiding in an escape. The murder charge was later dismissed.
Chief Bolton had served with the Muskogee Police Department for 13 years, and was survived by his wife and three children.
Survivors
Chief Bolton had served with the Muskogee Police Department for 13 years, and was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OK-2CB35A24- 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.
Chief of Detectives Bolton gave the Muskogee Police Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Muskogee community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Detectives Bolton.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Detectives Ben L. Bolton 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%.
At Muskogee Police Department, 6 of 8 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ben L. Bolton's cause is highlighted.
How Ben L. Bolton Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ben L. Bolton is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ben L. Bolton was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
7 officers from Muskogee Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
