Roll of Honor
Incident
Location: Nebraska Incident Date: Friday, December 22, 1893 Weapon: Person Offender: Unknown
Special Agent William Ransom succumbed to a head injury sustained on December 22nd, 1893, while attempting to arrest a subject in Wahoo, Nebraska.
Agent Ransom had been sent to the area to investigate a rash of recent burglaries. At approximately 10:00 pm he observed a man getting out of a freight car in the rail yards and attempting to arrest him. During the ensuing struggle Agent Ransom was knocked to the ground and struck his head on a railroad tie. He was taken St. Joseph's Hospital, in Omaha, where his condition continued to worsen until he died of his injuries.
Agent Ransom had served with the Union Pacific Railroad Police Department for five years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, three children, and parents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-BCAED5EA- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew William. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
132 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Special Agent Ransom gave the Union Pacific Railroad Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Omaha community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Agent William E. Ransom 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William E. Ransom's cause is highlighted.
How William E. Ransom Compares
Offender Outcome
Unknown
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William E. Ransom is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William E. Ransom was killed by person.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
20 officers from Union Pacific Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
