Overseer

William Bullard

Missouri Department of Corrections — Jefferson City, MO
Felonious
End of Watch June 14, 1841
Age 26
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
The Vigil Panel 1 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Overseer William Bullard was killed after being assaulted by several inmates during an escape at the Missouri State Penitentiary.

As one of the inmates distracted him, another struck him in the back of the head with a hammer. He was then held down and beaten to death before the suspects stole his keys and gun. A total of nine prisoners escaped.

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

185 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Overseer Bullard gave the Missouri Department of Corrections 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Missouri. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Type Corrections
Location Jefferson City, Cole County, MO
Platform Identity mdcorr.cole.mo.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 14, 1841
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Age 26
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Blunt object

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.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1841, 7 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 178th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 26. 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 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

June holds 8.1% 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 blunt object, in 1.2% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Missouri Department of Corrections has 20 officers remembered here, William among them.

VI

Where

Overseer William Bullard

Missouri Department of Corrections · End of Watch June 14, 1841

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 39-W

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