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Incident
Deputy Sheriff Will Ward succumbed to wounds sustained when he was beaten while transporting a prisoner to San Quentin Prison on the steamer Santa Rosa. Deputy Ward was attacked by the man as the steamer was docked at Port Harford in San Luis Obispo County. The inmate beat him over the head with a heavy water bottle and them jumped overboard in an escape attempt. The man was taken into custody by a Santa Barbara County deputy who was on the ship. Deputy Ward was taken to the San Luis Obispo County Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds 16 days later. The suspect was convicted of murder and hanged at San Quentin Prison the following year.
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- August 2, 2026
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- August 2, 2026
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127 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Ward served with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the San Diego community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
San Diego County Sheriff's Department has lost 11 officers; 6 of them killed feloniously.
Will is one of 974 officers killed feloniously in CA, 53% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Will is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Will is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1899, 1 officer at San Diego County Sheriff's Department was killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1899, 3 officers in CA were killed feloniously, the 114th heaviest of 163 years on record. The heaviest was 1970, with 24.
In 1899, 90 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 66th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1899, 92 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 69th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Will was 45. Of the 6 killed feloniously at San Diego County Sheriff's Department whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 35; the middle age was 32.
Will was 45. Of the 905 killed feloniously in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 43; the middle age was 35.
Will was 45. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.
Will was 45. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
November holds 16.7% of these deaths at San Diego County Sheriff's Department; May holds the most, 33.3%. Mondays: 33.3%.
November holds 8% of these deaths in CA; October holds the most, 9.3%. Mondays: 12.9%.
November holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.
November holds 8.2% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Mondays: 13.8%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 54.5% of all 11 deaths at San Diego County Sheriff's Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 16.7% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53% of all 1,839 deaths in CA, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 1.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 2% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 1.8% of these deaths.
His people
San Diego County Sheriff's Department has 11 officers remembered here, Will among them.
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Andrew Kriss
May 25, 1864
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Will Ward Nov 27, 1899
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Thomas A. Fay May 17, 1919
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Herbert Dean Sibert
Jul 13, 1949
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Donn G. Witt
Sep 25, 1983
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Kelly Ann Bazer
Jan 13, 1986
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Lonny Gene Brewer
Dec 5, 1987
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Theodore L. Beckmann, Jr.
Feb 8, 1989
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Patrick Steven Coyle
Feb 16, 1997
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Kenneth James Collier
Feb 28, 2010
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Matthew S. Gibbs
Aug 21, 2021
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 12-W
Others Who Wore This Badge
10 officers from San Diego County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
