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Deputy Sheriff

David Whitfield Gilstrap, Jr.

Oconee County Sheriff's Office — Watkinsville, GA

Accident

End of Watch October 9, 2008

Age 49

Tour of Duty 16 yrs

The Vigil Panel 157 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Deputy Sheriff David Gilstrap was struck and killed by a vehicle while directing traffic on Hog Mountain Road at approximately 7:30 am.

He and another deputy were providing traffic control at the entrance to a school when the incident occurred.

After the collision, he was transported to a local hospital where he remained on life support until succumbing to his injuries later that evening.

Deputy Gilstrap had served with the Oconee County Sheriff's Office for three years and had previously served with the Clarke County Sheriff's Office for 13 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-GA-B917743C
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 Gilstrap gave the Oconee County Sheriff's Office 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the Watkinsville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Gilstrap.

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

Agency

Department Oconee County Sheriff's Office

Location Watkinsville, GA

Platform Identity ocso.oconee.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 9, 2008

Tour of Duty 16 yrs

Age 49

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Deputy Sheriff David Whitfield Gilstrap, Jr. is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In GA, 263 of 903 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 29.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.9 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.

Oconee County Sheriff's Office

of 1 officers

100% Accident

GA — Statewide

263

of 903 officers

29.1% Accident

Nationwide

10,088

of 32,508 officers

31% Accident

National Cause Distribution

How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. David Whitfield Gilstrap, Jr.'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 David Whitfield Gilstrap, Jr. Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Accident: 38.1 years

Years of Service