Wiley Florence
Agency patch
City Marshal

Wiley Florence

Purcell Police Department — Purcell, OK
Felonious
End of Watch June 21, 1932
Age 46
Tour of Duty
The Vigil Panel 64 ›
Gender Male

Incident

City Marshal Wiley Florence was shot and killed by a night policeman who had just been fired by the city mayor.

The three men were in front of city hall when the night policeman opened fire on the mayor. The round struck Marshal Florence in the chest, mortally wounding him.

The night policeman turned himself and was charged with murder. His first trial ended with a hung jury. Results of his second trial in 1934 are not known.

Marshal Florence had been appointed only three weeks earlier.

Survivors

He was a widower and was survived by his son and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-OK-4BB75F86
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.
City Marshal Florence served with the Purcell Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Purcell community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, City Marshal Florence.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Purcell, McClain County, OK
Platform Identity ppd.mcclain.ok.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 21, 1932
Tour of Duty
Age 46
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun

City Marshal Wiley Florence is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 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 69.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

Purcell Police Department
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
OK — Statewide
403
of 582 officers
69.2% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,756 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Wiley Florence's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Wiley Florence Compares

Age at Death
46
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
0.1
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Wiley Florence is highlighted in Jun.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Wiley Florence was killed by handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from Purcell Police Department are honored on badge.nw.