A. H. Gotcher
Agency patch
Sheriff

A. H. Gotcher

Coahoma County Sheriff's Office — Clarksdale, MS
Felonious
End of Watch June 26, 1954
The Vigil Panel 90 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sheriff Gotcher was shot and killed as he and other officers searched a cotton warehouse for a man wanted for murder. The suspect shot Sheriff Gotcher five times when the sheriff discovered him hiding behind a door. Other officers returned fire killing the suspect.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MS-505CD1B6
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sheriff Gotcher served with the Coahoma County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Clarksdale community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Gotcher.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Clarksdale, Coahoma County, MS
Platform Identity ccso.coahoma.ms.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 26, 1954
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Sheriff A. H. Gotcher is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In MS, 243 of 350 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.4% of this state's fallen. That is 69.4 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Coahoma County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.

Coahoma County Sheriff's Office
3
of 4 officers
75% Felonious
MS — Statewide
243
of 350 officers
69.4% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. A. H. Gotcher's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How A. H. Gotcher Compares

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. A. H. Gotcher is highlighted in Jun.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. A. H. Gotcher was killed by gun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909