Roll of Honor

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Deputy Sheriff

Charles J. Kirkland

Polk County Sheriff's Office — Mena, AR

Felonious

End of Watch May 24, 1918

Age 49

The Vigil Panel 34 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Charles Kirkland was shot and killed during a gun battle with several men he attempted to arrest for refusing to register for the draft.

As he and a posse approached the suspect's cabin near Hatfield gunfire erupted from the windows. Deputy Kirkland was killed instantly and another officer was wounded. The posse returned fire killing one of the men.

Seven men were taken into custody and charged with Deputy Kirkland's murder. Six were convicted of murder. One was executed in the electric chair on August 24, 1918. Another was sentenced to life and the other four were sentenced to 16, 15, 10, and three years respectively.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AR-1E8975BB
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.
Deputy Sheriff Kirkland served with the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Mena community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Kirkland.

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

Agency

Department Polk County Sheriff's Office

Location Mena, AR

Platform Identity pcso.polk.ar.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 24, 1918

Age 49

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender One shot and killed; One executed

Deputy Sheriff Charles J. Kirkland 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 AR, 249 of 372 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.9% of this state's fallen. That is 12.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Polk County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Polk County Sheriff's Office

of 2 officers

100% Felonious

AR — Statewide

249

of 372 officers

66.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles J. Kirkland's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Charles J. Kirkland Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

One shot and killed; One executed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles J. Kirkland is highlighted in May.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charles J. Kirkland was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Polk County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.