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Watchman

Theodore Franklin Wiser

Union Pacific Railroad Police Department — Omaha, NE

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch September 10, 1904

Age 59

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

The Vigil Panel 19 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 20

Incident

Location: Nebraska Weapon: Person Offender: Sentenced to life

Watchman Frank Wiser was beaten to death by three tramps in the rail yards at Sidney, Nebraska, at approximately 7:30 p.m.

He was making his rounds when he encountered the three men, who had been drinking. The three attacked him and severely beat him. Two other tramps who witnessed the attack alerted other railroad workers of the assault, but the workers did not believe them.

Several hours later a search was started for Watchman Wiser when he failed to meet an incoming passenger train. His body was located early the following morning approximately 500 feet northeast of the stockyards. His revolver, watch, and money had been stolen.

The three tramps were arrested later in the day and returned to Sidney. They all plead guilty to second-degree murder and were sentenced to life in prison at hard labor.

Watchman Wiser was a Civil War veteran and had served with the Union Pacific Railroad Police for eight years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-RR-551A4B87
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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Watchman Wiser gave the Union Pacific Railroad Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Omaha community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Union Pacific Railroad Police Department

Location Omaha, NE

Platform Identity uprpd.rr.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 10, 1904

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

Age 59

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Person

Offender Sentenced to life

Military Service

Theodore Franklin Wiser served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Watchman Theodore Franklin Wiser 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 NE, 97 of 151 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.2% of this state's fallen. That is 10 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Union Pacific Railroad Police Department, 13 of 21 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.9% of this agency's fallen.

Union Pacific Railroad Police Department

of 21 officers

61.9% Felonious

NE — Statewide

of 151 officers

64.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious