Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant W.H. Riley was stabbed to death while questioning two inmates about a robbery that took place inside the Oklahoma State Prison.
Another inmate had accused the two of robbing him. During the questioning, one of the inmates struck Sergeant Riley in the head with a lead pipe and the other stabbed him in the face and back, killing him. They also beat and stabbed to death the inmate who had accused them of robbery.
Both suspects were convicted of Sergeant Riley's murder and sentenced to death. One was executed in the electric chair on November 1, 1946. On May 30, 1946, the other suspect was found dead in his bed on death row a few hours before he was to be executed. He had slit his wrist with a razor blade.
Sergeant Riley had been with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections for ten years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and five children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OK-755AD41D- 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 Sergeant Riley gave the Oklahoma Department of Corrections 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Oklahoma. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief Sergeant Riley.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief Sergeant W. H. Riley 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 Oklahoma Department of Corrections, 14 of 19 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 73.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. W. H. Riley's cause is highlighted.
How W. H. Riley Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. W. H. Riley is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. W. H. Riley was killed by edged weapon; shank.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
18 officers from Oklahoma Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
