Roll of Honor
Incident
Marshal William Tilghman was shot and killed after arresting a corrupt federal prohibition agent for public intoxication. Marshal Tilghman observed the man stumbling in the street carrying a pistol. As he was escorting the man to jail, the suspect pulled out another pistol he had concealed in his pants and shot Marshal Tilghman three times.
The suspect was acquitted of Marshal Tilghman's murder by a corrupt judicial system. The same suspect shot and killed Agent Crockett Long, of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, in 1932 as revenge for being arrested by him. The man also blamed Agent Long for his failure to be hired by the agency.
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- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
54 years. You could have gone home.
City Marshal Tilghman gave the Cromwell Police Department 54 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Cromwell community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, City Marshal Tilghman.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
City Marshal William Matthew Tilghman 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. William Matthew Tilghman's cause is highlighted.
How William Matthew Tilghman Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Matthew Tilghman is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.