Officer William Strong
Died on June 27, 1899
Age 59Provo Police Department
Homicide: Handgun
Officer Strong was murdered by a transient he arrested in the city train yard. The 59-year-old victim had returned from retirement for the purposes of patrolling the depot at night for vagrants. Shortly after midnight, Officer Strong took a man into custody, unaware that he had burglarized a store in Scofield. At 400 S. University Ave., the suspect removed a .38-caliber revolver from his bedroll and shot the officer through the heart. The suspect fled and managed to elude police for nearly 24 hours. Arrested by guards posted west of the city, he was subsequently convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. In 1902, responding to a Utah Supreme Court decision, the suspect was retried and found not guilty. After serving time for the Scofield burglary, he was paroled in 1912. Married and the father of four children, Officer Strong is buried in Provo City Cemetery. His bronze name plaque is sponsored by Provo P.D. Local #129/Police Mutual Aid Association.
[…] Officer WILLIAM STRONG served his community for more than 30 years before being shot to death by a transient in […]
Thank you so much for honoring my great great grandfather. It is a touching reminder of his sacrifice.
Amazing how many people are affected by ones actions. I am so proud to be a member of the Utah Peace Officer Association which started the Utah Law Enforcement Memorial (we are located in the same building now)and recognize, each year, 14 (different) fallen officers. If anyone has contact information on relatives I am the keeper of fallen officer relative information so we can reach out to family/relative members when these events occur. I can be reached at blsmith@sandy.Utah.gov.
THIS WAS MY GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT GRANDFATHER, THANK YOU FOR REMEMBERING HIS SERVICE.