Frank Walter Twombley

Multnomah County Sheriff's Office — Portland, OR

Felonious

End of Watch November 19, 1918

Age 27

The Vigil Panel 36 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 9

Incident

Deputy Frank Twombley was shot and killed while attempting to stop a speeding motorist around 11 p.m. Deputy Twombley was riding his police motorcycle and had sped up to the driver's side door. The driver of the vehicle shot him off of the motorcycle. The suspect turned out to be a robber who had just stolen $123 from the bridge tender on the Oregon end of the interstate bridge leading to Vancouver, Washington. The 24-year-old suspect was arrested, convicted of murder, and sentenced to life. On November 7, 1934, he escaped from prison. On February 18, 1935, he was arrested in Salt Lake City, Utah, along with a Idaho prison escapee for the attempted robbery of the Denver and Rio Grande Mail Train. Later that year he was convicted of the robbery attempt and sentenced to 25 years in Alcatraz. In July of 1945 he was charged with attempted escape and received another five years in Alcatraz. He put on a army uniform, boarded a ferry, and made it all the way to the mainland before being discovered. He told everyone on the ferry he was doing special work for the army at Alcatraz. Prison officials said his was the best escape attempt ever from Alcatraz. He died in California in 1979.

Survivors

Deputy Twombley was survived by his wife and child.

In Our Keeping

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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.
Deputy Sheriff Twombley served with the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Portland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Twombley.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Multnomah County Sheriff's Office

Location Portland, OR

Platform Identity mcso.multnomah.or.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 19, 1918

Age 27

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Sentenced to life

Deputy Sheriff Frank Walter Twombley 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 OR, 115 of 197 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58.4% of this state's fallen. That is 4.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Multnomah County Sheriff's Office, 9 of 10 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 90% of this agency's fallen.

Multnomah County Sheriff's Office

of 10 officers

90% Felonious

OR — Statewide

115

of 197 officers

58.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious