Miami Police Department, Florida
End of Watch: Saturday, February 20, 1971
Age: 45
Tour of Duty: 20 years
Badge Number: 688
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: February 20, 1971
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: At large
Sergeant Victor Butler was shot and killed in an ambush outside of an apartment building at 1336 NW 46th Street.
He and his partner had been called to the building on a domestic disturbance call just before the end of their shift. As Sergeant Butler exited the building he was struck in the chest by a shot fired from a passing car. It is believed that he was killed by members of a radical racist group.
On October 19th, 1978, two 2y-year-old men were arrested and charged with his murder. One was in Raiford Prison serving a term for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The other suspect was arrested at his home in Dade County. The arrest was based on information from a man who said he drove the car that the suspects were in when they shot Sergeant Butler. As the suspects' trial was about to begin, the driver sent police a tape saying he lied about everything. He was arrested and charged with Sergeant Butler's murder. In 1980 charges were dismissed against all three due to a lack of evidence.
Officer Butler was a WWII veteran and had served with the Miami Police Department for 20 years. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of Sergeant. He was survived by his wife and three children.