Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Will Turner was shot and killed while attempting to serve an arrest warrant on a man near the town of Violet Springs.
He located the man along with the man's brother and two other men. When Deputy Turner told the man he was under arrest the man drew his gun. Deputy Turner opened fire on him, but the round was stropped by a steal chest plate the man had in his vest. All four men opened fire on Deputy Turner, killing him.
All four subjects were arrested by a posse. One of the men was acquitted and one was sentenced to two years in prison. The man who was named on the warrant was sentenced to 10 years in prison and his brother was sentenced to five years.
On June 30th, 1895, both brothers escaped from the Oklahoma County Jail while appealing their sentences. Oklahoma City Police Chief John Jones was shot and killed during the escape. Another cop-killer who attempted to escape with them was shot and killed during the attempt. One of the brothers was later shot and killed by a posse in Arizona while the other was never located.
Please know that no passage of time will ever erase your memory, service and more importantly your sacrifice and you will always be remembered. Rest in peace always.
Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo Delaware State Police (Retired) June 30th, 2020
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OK-6F433D64- 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
131 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Turner served with the Pottawatomie County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Shawnee community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Will Turner is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,587 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 15.3 percentage points above the national rate of 53.9%.
At Pottawatomie County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 28.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Will Turner's cause is highlighted.
How Will Turner Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Will Turner is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Will Turner was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from Pottawatomie County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
