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Officer

William Leopold Cotter

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation — Sacramento, CA
Felonious
United States flag California flag
End of Watch July 27, 1903
Age 54
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
The Vigil Panel 18 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 41

Incident

Officer William Cotter was stabbed to death as 13 prisoners escaped from the Folsom Penitentiary. The prisoners, who were armed with knives and razors, attacked the prison staff. They stabbed and killed Officer Cotter and seriously wounded several other guards and the Warden. The suspects then took the officer's guns and escaped from the prison by using the prison guards as shields as they fled. Two suspects were shot and killed during the ensuing manhunt. The remaining 11 were arrested and returned to prison. Two were executed for the murder, and one committed suicide in his cell. Two members of the state militia were also shot and killed during the manhunt. Officer Cotter had served with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for at least eight years, assigned to Folsom Penitentiary.

Survivors

He was survived by his son and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Cotter gave the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of California. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Cotter.

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

Agency

Department California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Type Corrections
Location Sacramento, CA
Platform Identity cdcrcorr.sacramento.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 27, 1903
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
Age 54
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Edged weapon

The Sacrifice · Felonious

William is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1903, 103 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 50th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 54. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. William had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was edged weapon, in 2.2% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has 42 officers remembered here, William among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Officer William Leopold Cotter

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation · End of Watch July 27, 1903

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 23-W

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