Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Otto Witbeck was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a murder suspect near Sarasota Springs around 5:00 p.m. A posse, comprising of Deputy Sheriff Otto Witbeck, Deputy Jensen, Chief of Police J.W. Grant of the Bingham City Police Department, and additional members, followed the suspect from Bingham. While searching for him, the suspect fired multiple shots from behind the brush and struck all three men before fleeing. The suspect would also shoot and kill Posse Member Thomas Mandarich and Deputy Sheriff J. Douglas Hulsey of the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office eight days later. The suspect was shot and killed in 1921. Deputy Witbeck had served with the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office for two years. Survivors include his wife and two children. From November 13, 1913 to November 29, 1913, Deputy Sheriff Nephi Jensen, Deputy Sheriff George Otto Witbeck, Deputy Sheriff Vaso Thomas Mandarich, Deputy Sheriff James Douglas Hulsey, and Chief of Police John William "Billy" Grant, of the Bingham City Police Department, were shot and killed while attempting to apprehend a murder suspect. Please click here to read more about the Bingham, Utah, shooting and view all the law enforcement officers killed.
Survivors
Survivors include his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-UT-0286102E- 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 Witbeck gave the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Salt Lake City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Witbeck.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff George Otto Witbeck 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 UT, 84 of 138 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.9% of this state's fallen. That is 6.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office, 7 of 10 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. George Otto Witbeck's cause is highlighted.
How George Otto Witbeck Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed in 1921
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. George Otto Witbeck is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. George Otto Witbeck was killed by rifle.
Others Who Wore This Badge
9 officers from Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
