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William Douglas Bowman
Incident
Deputy Sheriff William Bowman was shot and killed during a SWAT training exercise in which he was participating with other members of his agency's SWAT team at Camp Rilea, Oregon.
Deputy Bowman, along with 10 other officers, were training in a mock building when a live round fired from another officer's weapon and struck him in the head. The live round had inadvertently been loaded into the weapon during the training.
Deputy Bowman had served with the Clackamas County Sheriff's Department for six years and had served on the SWAT team for two years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two children, ages three years and three months.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Bowman gave the Clackamas County Sheriff's Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Oregon City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Bowman.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Clackamas County Sheriff's Department has lost 3 officers; 1 of them lost to accidents.
William is one of 66 officers lost to accidents in OR, 33.5% of the 197 remembered there.
William is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
William is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2000, 1 officer in OR was lost to accidents, the 19th heaviest of 45 years on record. The heaviest was 1961, with 3.
In 2000, 85 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 19th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 2000, 91 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 36th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
William was 36. Of the 59 lost to accidents in OR whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 44.5; the middle age was 36. William had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
William was 36. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. William had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
William was 36. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. William had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
September holds 15.2% of these deaths in OR; May holds the most, 16.7%. Tuesdays: 22.7%.
September holds 9.2% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Tuesdays: 14.1%.
September holds 9.1% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Tuesdays: 14%.
How
Accident deaths account for 33.3% of all 3 deaths at Clackamas County Sheriff's Department, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 33.5% of all 197 deaths in OR, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Clackamas County Sheriff's Department has 3 officers remembered here, William among them.
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 60-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Clackamas County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
