Cecil Williamson Watford

Columbia Police Department — Columbia, SC

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch July 1, 1957

Age 27

The Vigil Panel 92 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 9

Incident

Policeman Cecil Watford succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained the previous day when he was shot during a struggle with a suspect in a home at the intersection of Heidt Street and Read Street. The suspect who was acting crazy attempted to throw hot water on his mother. He then shot and critically wounded his brother who had attempted to help Policeman Watford. The 30-year-old suspect, who was a suspect in another murder, refused to cooperate with police. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. Policeman Watford had previously served with the United States Marine Corps. He is buried in Sawneys Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, Fairfield County, South Carolina.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-SC-97F30120
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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Marine Corps. One record, 2 gates. Cecil is one person.

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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.
Policeman Watford served with the Columbia Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Columbia 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

Department Columbia Police Department

Type Other

Location Columbia, SC

Platform Identity cpd.richland.sc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 1, 1957

Age 27

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

Military Service

Cecil Williamson Watford served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Policeman Cecil Williamson Watford 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 SC, 271 of 440 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.6% of this state's fallen. That is 61.6 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Columbia Police Department, 5 of 10 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Columbia Police Department

of 10 officers

50% Felonious

SC — Statewide

271

of 440 officers

61.6% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious