Sergeant Victor Butler, Jr.

Victor Butler, Jr.

Sergeant Butler was shot and killed in an ambush outside of an apartment building on NW 46th Street. He and his partner had been called to the building on a domestic disturbance a 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 19, 1978, two men, both 27, 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 had served with the agency for 20 years and was posthumously promoted to the rank of Sergeant. He was survived by his wife and three children. He was a World War ll Veteran who fought in the Pacific.