Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Wilber Lester succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained on May 29th, 1894, while attempting to arrest several men who were stealing items from a boxcar at the Santa Fe Railroad depot.
The railroad watchman locked several of the subjects into the boxcar and notified officers, who responded to the scene. Patrolman Lester opened the boxcar door and instructed the people inside to surrender. When he did not receive a response he climbed into the boxcar. A man hiding in the shadows opened fire, striking him in the head.
The men in the boxcar then jumped from the boxcar and fled on foot. The other officers on scene returned fire, fatally wounding one of the men.
Patrolman Lester was survived by his wife, three children, mother, and six siblings.
Survivors
Patrolman Lester was survived by his wife, three children, mother, and six siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OK-C2A6C7E9- 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
132 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman Lester served with the Guthrie Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Guthrie community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Wilber H. Lester 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 Guthrie Police Department, 3 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Wilber H. Lester's cause is highlighted.
How Wilber H. Lester Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Wilber H. Lester is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Wilber H. Lester was killed by handgun; .32 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Guthrie Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
