Roll of Honor
Arnold William Wilkerson
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Arnie Wilkerson was shot and killed while acting as a bailiff at the Orange County Courthouse. A suspect had gone to the courthouse with the intention of shooting a police officer who had given him a traffic ticket. The suspect entered a courtroom and exchanged gunfire with Deputy Sheriff Harry Dalton, mortally wounding him. He then shot and killed Deputy Arnold Wilkerson in the courtroom and shot at the judge but missed. After exiting the courtroom, he exchanged shots with another deputy in the hallway. Corrections Officer Mark Parker, who was unarmed, was caught in the crossfire while attempting to shield citizens in the hallway. He was left paralyzed from the chest down and required round-the-clock care for the remainder of his life until succumbing to his wounds on March 19th, 2009. The suspect was convicted of murder and executed in June of 2000. Officer Parker attended the execution. Deputy Wilkerson was a U.S. Navy WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam War veteran and served with the Orange County Sheriff's Office for nine years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-6F640FA0- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Deputy Sheriff Wilkerson gave the Orange County Sheriff's Office 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Orlando community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Arnold William Wilkerson served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Deputy Sheriff Arnold William Wilkerson 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 97,759 officers honored here.
In FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 53.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Orange County Sheriff's Office, 11 of 21 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 52.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Arnold William Wilkerson's cause is highlighted.
How Arnold William Wilkerson Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Arnold William Wilkerson is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Arnold William Wilkerson was killed by gun.
Incident Location
Military Service
Arnold William Wilkerson served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Visit Arnold William Wilkerson’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
20 officers from Orange County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
