Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Byron Pierce was shot and killed after responding to the farm of a man who was threatening his relatives with a rifle.
Deputies had surrounded the house and Sheriff Pierce was shot when he went to the front door to confront the man. The 67 year-old suspect, a former mental patient, was apprehended at the scene. The body of his 72 year-old brother was found shot to death 75 yards away.
The suspect was adjudged insane and committed in a mental institution.
Sheriff Pierce had served with the Henry County Sheriff's Department for eight years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-F848A2AD- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sheriff Pierce gave the Henry County Sheriff's Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cambridge community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Pierce.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Byron Leslie Pierce is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In IL, 842 of 1,318 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.9% of this state's fallen. That is 9.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Henry County Sheriff's Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Byron Leslie Pierce's cause is highlighted.
How Byron Leslie Pierce Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Byron Leslie Pierce is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Henry County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
