Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff David Wargo succumbed to severe head injuries sustained nine years earlier when he was dragged by a vehicle in a supermarket parking lot at the intersection of 83rd Avenue and Camelback Road.
Deputy Wargo was working an off duty detail at the supermarket when he encountered a man parking in a prohibited area and instructed him to move. The subject attempted to flee the scene while Deputy Wargo held onto the truck. The driver reached speeds of up to 50 mph before Deputy Wargo fell from the truck and struck his head on the pavement.
He suffered severe head injuries as a result and was left in a vegetative state until passing away nine years later.
The driver of the vehicle was convicted of several charges after the initial incident and sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Deputy Wargo had served with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office for seven years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AZ-2889EB9B- 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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Wargo gave the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Phoenix community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Wargo.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff David William Wargo Jr. 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 AZ, 204 of 330 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 61.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, 11 of 28 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 39.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. David William Wargo Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How David William Wargo Jr. Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. David William Wargo Jr. is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. David William Wargo Jr. was killed by automobile.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
27 officers from Maricopa County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
