John S. Wright
Agency patch
Marshal

John S. Wright

Colville Police Department — Colville, WA
Felonious
End of Watch July 23, 1908
Age 55
Tour of Duty 9 yrs
The Vigil Panel 22 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Marshal Wright succumbed to a gunshot wound received two months earlier while investigating an attempted robbery. He and another officer had gone to the victim's home to gather more information. While in the home the brother of the victim, who was scared because of the earlier robbery, opened fire with a rifle from a dark room. Marshal Wright was struck in the neck and paralyzed until his death two months later. Marshal Wright had served as Marshal for 5 years and had previously been a deputy sheriff for 4 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, three sons, and four daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-WA-B56FADD4
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.
Marshal Wright gave the Colville Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Colville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Marshal Wright.

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

Agency

Location Colville, WA
Platform Identity cpd.stevens.wa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 23, 1908
Tour of Duty 9 yrs
Age 55
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Rifle
Offender Not available

Marshal John S. Wright 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 WA, 187 of 339 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55.2% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Colville Police Department, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.

Colville Police Department
2
of 3 officers
66.7% Felonious
WA — Statewide
187
of 339 officers
55.2% 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. John S. Wright'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 John S. Wright Compares

Age at End of Watch
55
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
9
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Not available

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John S. Wright is highlighted in Jul.

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. John S. Wright was killed by rifle.

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

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from Colville Police Department are honored on badge.nw.