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ODMP Remembers...

Special Agent J. H. Union Pacific Railroad Police Department, Railroad Police

Special Agent

J. H. "Buck" Phillips

Union Pacific Railroad Police Department, Railroad Police

End of Watch: Tuesday, June 14, 1921

Bio & Incident Details

Age: Not available

Tour: Not available

Badge # Not available

Cause: Gunfire

Location: Oregon

Incident Date: 6/14/1921

Weapon: Gun; Unknown type

Suspect: Executed in 1923

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Special Agent Buck Phillips was shot and killed in Portland, Oregon, while attempting to arrest several box car thieves.

The thieves had been boarding slow moving trainings near the Peninsula Tula, and then throwing goods onto an adjacent road, where an accomplice in a truck would pick them up. Agent Phillips and his partner were patrolling opposite sides of a train when he encountered the thieves.

As he attempted to arrest them one of them opened fire, striking him three times. Despite being mortally wounded, he returned fire and wounded one of the men. The suspects were arrested several days later in Albina, Oregon, after an intensive search by local police, railroad police, and federal agents.

The suspect who shot Agent Phillips was sentenced to death and executed by hanging on August 24, 1923.

Agent Phillips was survived by his wife and one child. His brother, Deputy Robert Phillips, had also been shot and killed in the line of duty on November 18, 1917, while serving with the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office.

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Related Line of Duty Deaths

Deputy Sheriff Robert Phillips
Multnomah County Sheriff's Office, Oregon
End of Watch: Wednesday, November 21, 1917
Cause: Gunfire

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Most Recent Reflection

Agent Phillips,
On today, the 90th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice. It took another two years but your murderer finally got the justice that he deserved.

R.I.P.
USBP

Anonymous
USBP
June 14, 2011

 

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