Roll of Honor
Incident
Town Marshal Billy Wilson was shot and killed when he attempted to disarm three cowboys who were in town. Rapid City had an ordinance prohibiting the carrying of any weapon inside the city limits. When Marshal Wilson attempted to disarm three cowboys inside the Horse Market Saloon, the cowboys opened fire, leaving Wilson dead and one of the cowboys wounded. All three suspects were arrested and charged with murder. They were acquitted after a trial in which they claimed they killed Marshal Wilson in self-defense. Town Marshal Wilson had served with the Rapid City Police Department for four months. He was not married. Town Marshal Wilson is buried in Evergreen Abandon, Rapid Valley, Pennington County, South Dakota.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-SD-5ABD3FFD- Stewardship
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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
141 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Town Marshal Wilson served with the Rapid City Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Rapid City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Town Marshal William A. Wilson 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 SD, 36 of 62 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58.1% of this state's fallen. That is 3.9 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Rapid City Police Dept., 5 of 8 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William A. Wilson's cause is highlighted.
How William A. Wilson Compares
Offender Outcome
Acquitted at trial
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William A. Wilson is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William A. Wilson was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
7 officers from Rapid City Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
