In the late summer of 1931, the city of Fort Smith, Arkansas, was irrevocably marked by a violent encounter that resulted in the death of one of its own. William A. Bourland, a 51-year-old White male and a Captain with the Fort Smith Police Department, lost his life in the line of duty on the night of September 2, 1931. The events of that evening began to unfold after three men committed an armed robbery at a service station in the nearby town of Spiro, Oklahoma.
Later that night, around
11:30 p.m., Captain Bourland and Patrolman Ralph Howard spotted the suspects' vehicle on the Spiro highway and began a pursuit. The chase carried them into Fort Smith, moving east on South Y Street until it reached Towson Avenue. As the pursuit continued north on Towson, the officers managed to force the robbers' car off the road. It was at this moment that the situation escalated dramatically into a fierce gun battle.
During the exchange of gunfire, Captain Bourland was struck multiple times, receiving fatal wounds to his head and chest. He was rushed to St. Edward Hospital but succumbed to his injuries and died that night. His partner, Patrolman Ralph Howard, was also gravely wounded in the shootout, suffering gunshot wounds to his neck, chest, and both hands. He tragically died from his injuries two days later.
The shootout also resulted in casualties among the suspects. One of the three men was killed at the scene of the gunfight. The two surviving suspects were apprehended by law enforcement. Following their capture, both men were convicted for their roles in the deadly confrontation and were sentenced to life in prison. In a later development, one of the convicted men had his sentence commuted and was eventually paroled. Captain Bourland was survived by his wife, a son, and three daughters, and was laid to rest in the National Cemetery in Fort Smith.
