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Incident
Deputy Frank Twombley was shot and killed while attempting to stop a speeding motorist around 11 p.m. Deputy Twombley was riding his police motorcycle and had sped up to the driver's side door. The driver of the vehicle shot him off of the motorcycle. The suspect turned out to be a robber who had just stolen $123 from the bridge tender on the Oregon end of the interstate bridge leading to Vancouver, Washington. The 24-year-old suspect was arrested, convicted of murder, and sentenced to life. On November 7, 1934, he escaped from prison. On February 18, 1935, he was arrested in Salt Lake City, Utah, along with a Idaho prison escapee for the attempted robbery of the Denver and Rio Grande Mail Train. Later that year he was convicted of the robbery attempt and sentenced to 25 years in Alcatraz. In July of 1945 he was charged with attempted escape and received another five years in Alcatraz. He put on a army uniform, boarded a ferry, and made it all the way to the mainland before being discovered. He told everyone on the ferry he was doing special work for the army at Alcatraz. Prison officials said his was the best escape attempt ever from Alcatraz. He died in California in 1979.
Survivors
Deputy Twombley was survived by his wife and child.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
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- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Twombley served with the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Portland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Twombley.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Multnomah County Sheriff's Office has lost 10 officers; 9 of them killed feloniously.
Frank is one of 115 officers killed feloniously in OR, 58.4% of the 197 remembered there.
Frank is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Frank is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 52% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1918, 1 officer at Multnomah County Sheriff's Office was killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 8 years on record. The heaviest was 1993, with 2.
In 1918, 1 officer in OR was killed feloniously, the 32nd heaviest of 75 years on record. The heaviest was 1931, with 5.
In 1918, 165 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 19th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1918, 169 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 24th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Frank was 27. Of the 8 killed feloniously at Multnomah County Sheriff's Office whose age is recorded, half were between 36.8 and 49; the middle age was 41.
Frank was 27. Of the 97 killed feloniously in OR whose age is recorded, half were between 36 and 51; the middle age was 43.
Frank was 27. 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.
Frank was 27. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
November holds 33.3% of these deaths at Multnomah County Sheriff's Office, more than any other month. Tuesdays: 11.1%.
November holds 12.2% of these deaths in OR, more than any other month. Tuesdays: 13%.
November holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.
November holds 8.2% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Tuesdays: 13.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 90% of all 10 deaths at Multnomah County Sheriff's Office, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 33.3% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 58.4% of all 197 deaths in OR, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 30.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 20.4% of these deaths.
His people
Multnomah County Sheriff's Office has 10 officers remembered here, Frank among them.
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Robert Phillips
Nov 21, 1917
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Frank Walter Twombley
Nov 19, 1918
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Ed Diedrich May 24, 1924
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Walter William Leonhardt
Sep 28, 1931
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Ernest C. Loll
Sep 29, 1935
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Albert William Bowe
Nov 15, 1945
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Mark Alan Whitehead
Feb 26, 1993
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Scott E. Collins
Feb 26, 1993
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Robert Ray Anderson
Dec 1, 1994
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Irving Lawrence Burkett
Aug 21, 2003
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 20-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
9 officers from Multnomah County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
