Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff David Stiff and Deputy Sheriff Richard Harris were shot and killed near England, Lonoke County while attempting to arrest an escapee from the Arkansas County Jail.
Both deputies had located the fugitive in a home approximately three miles from England. As they order the escapee to surrender they were both fired upon. Deputy Sheriff Harris was killed instantly and Deputy Sheriff Stiff succumbed to his wound the following day. The fugitive escaped through a wooded area behind the home.
In September 1896 the subject was arrested in Paris, Texas for cattle theft and was extradited back to Arkansas County to stand trial for both deputies. The subject was acquitted of both murders. On May 24, 1897th, shortly after the trial the subject slightly wounded the sheriff of Lonoke County when a posse attempted to place him into custody to be extradited back to Paris, Texas, to face the original cattle theft charges.
Deputy Sheriff Stiff had been deputized by his son-in-law, Deputy Sheriff Harris, to assist him in apprehending the fugitive.
Survivors
Deputy Sheriff Stiff was survived by his wife and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AR-CA60B148- 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
131 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Stiff served with the Arkansas County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the DeWitt community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff David H. Stiff 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 97,772 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 66.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Arkansas 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. David H. Stiff's cause is highlighted.
How David H. Stiff Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. David H. Stiff is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. David H. Stiff was killed by rifle; winchester.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Arkansas County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
