Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief of Police Bruce Rainey was shot and thrown into a crevice where he died from his wounds. Chief Rainey was supervising the painting of lines on the streets of Weatherford on June 23rd, 1941. At 9:30 p.m. his car was found abandoned about a mile west of the city on Route 66. The keys were missing, however, a shotgun and police whistle were found inside. Chief Rainey was nowhere to be found. A massive search effort began. About noon on July 3rd, 1941, Chief Rainey’s body was found in a rock crevice three miles southwest of Weatherford. An autopsy report indicated blunt force trauma on the left side of his head causing a fractured skull, and three bullet wounds to the head which apparently occurred after he had been thrown in the rock crevice. His billfold was still on his body, but missing were his keys, gun, and watch. The shooter was caught during a routine police arrest on June 29th, 1941. A Chickasha man was charged with burglary and illegal possession of a pistol. A fingerprint expert happened to see the pistol and remarked it was the same make and model as the one that killed Chief Rainey. Tests proved the pistol was in fact the same weapon used to murder Chief Rainey. He was convicted of murder on October 1st, 1941, and sentenced to life in prison. He was paroled in the spring of 1973.
Survivors
Chief Rainey was survived by his wife, daughter, two sons, brother, and sister.
In Our Keeping
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- 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 Police Rainey served with the Weatherford Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Weatherford community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Rainey.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police Bruce Felder Rainey 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Bruce Felder Rainey's cause is highlighted.
How Bruce Felder Rainey Compares
Offender Outcome
Paroled in 1971
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Bruce Felder Rainey is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Bruce Felder Rainey was killed by handgun.