Willard A. Tubbs
Agency patch
Private

Willard A. Tubbs

Oregon State Police — Salem, OR
Felonious
End of Watch June 21, 1939
Age 33
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
The Vigil Panel 75 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Private Willard Tubbs was shot and killed while assisting an Arlington Town Marshal in arresting a man wanted for forgery. When Private Tubbs and the other officer spotted the suspect's car on the side of the road, they stopped to investigate, and the suspect came up from behind the officers and shot and killed Private Tubbs. The suspect was arrested and committed to the Oregon State Hospital, where they died in 1956. Private Tubbs had served with the Oregon State Police for eight years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, a young child, two sisters, and a brother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-OR-D6523125
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.
Private Tubbs gave the Oregon State Police 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Oregon. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Private Tubbs.

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

Agency

Department Oregon State Police
Location Salem, OR
Platform Identity osp.or.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 21, 1939
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
Age 33
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Apprehended

Private Willard A. Tubbs 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 Oregon State Police, 16 of 31 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 51.6% of this agency's fallen.

Oregon State Police
16
of 31 officers
51.6% 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. Willard A. Tubbs'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 Willard A. Tubbs Compares

Age at End of Watch
33
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
8
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Apprehended

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Willard A. Tubbs is highlighted in Jun.

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. Willard A. Tubbs was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518