Roll of Honor

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Deputy Sheriff

Raymond Williams

Union County Sheriff's Office — La Grande, OR

Felonious

End of Watch November 5, 1980

Age 33

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

The Vigil Panel 123 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Deputy Williams and Deputy Michael Cheney were killed when their patrol pickup was struck head-on by a drunk driver on Highway 82 near Elgin, Oregon. The drunk driver was also killed in the collision. The deputies were returning from a search and rescue mission when the incident occurred.

Survivors

Deputy Williams had been with the agency for five years and was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OR-2A817CE8
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.
Deputy Sheriff Williams gave the Union County Sheriff's Office 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the La Grande community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Williams.

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

Agency

Department Union County Sheriff's Office

Location La Grande, OR

Platform Identity ucso.union.or.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 5, 1980

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

Age 33

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Automobile; Alcohol involved

Offender Killed in collision

Deputy Sheriff Raymond Williams 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 Union County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Union County Sheriff's Office

of 2 officers

100% Felonious

OR — Statewide

115

of 197 officers

58.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Raymond Williams's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Raymond Williams Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Killed in collision

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Raymond Williams is highlighted in Nov.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Raymond Williams was killed by automobile; alcohol involved.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Union County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.