Bill Jewel Linder
Agency patch
Assistant Chief of Police

Bill Jewel Linder

Wisner Police Department — Wisner, LA
Veteran → Felonious
End of Watch October 10, 2004
Age 62
Tour of Duty 9 yrs
The Vigil Panel 152 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Assistant Chief Bill Linder was shot and killed with his own service weapon after responding to a burglary call on Harlem Street at 10:00 a.m.

Upon his arrival, Chief Linder encountered a suspect. As he attempted to arrest the suspect, a struggle ensued and the suspect was able to gain control of Chief Linder's service weapon. The suspect then shot and killed the chief.

When backup deputies from the Franklin Parish Sheriff's Office arrived on the scene, they encountered the suspect wielding a hammer. The deputies were able to arrest the suspect without incident.

Assistant Chief Linder was transported to Franklin Parish Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

The suspect was charged with first-degree murder. In May 2005, he was sentenced to life in prison.

Assistant Chief Linder was a United States Army Vietnam War veteran who had served with the 4-person Wisner Police Department for 3 years and had previously served with the Baskin Police Department for approximately 6 years. He is survived by his wife, daughter, two sons, a nephew, five brothers, and six grandchildren. One of his sons also served in law enforcement.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, daughter, two sons, a nephew, five brothers, and six grandchildren.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-LA-1F93EB1A
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.
Assistant Chief of Police Linder gave the Wisner Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Wisner community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Wisner, LA
Platform Identity wisnpd.franklin.la.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 10, 2004
Tour of Duty 9 yrs
Age 62
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Officer's handgun

Military Service

Bill Jewel Linder served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Assistant Chief of Police Bill Jewel Linder 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 LA, 364 of 595 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.2% of this state's fallen. That is 61.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

Wisner Police Department
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
LA — Statewide
364
of 595 officers
61.2% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,759 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Bill Jewel Linder's cause is highlighted.

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

How Bill Jewel Linder Compares

Age at Death
62
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
9
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Bill Jewel Linder is highlighted in Oct.

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. Bill Jewel Linder was killed by officer's handgun.

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

Incident Location

Military Service

Bill Jewel Linder served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.

Visit Bill Jewel Linder’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from Wisner Police Department are honored on badge.nw.