Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Dick Wharton was shot and killed 20 miles northeast of Edwardsville when he was ambushed while attempting to serve arrest warrants.
He had obtained warrants for several men known as wildcatters who were making illegal whiskey. He was ambushed on the public highway and shot multiple times.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-4B638B08- 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
129 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Wharton served with the Cleburne County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Heflin community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Dick Wharton 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 AL, 405 of 643 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63% of this state's fallen. That is 8.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Cleburne County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Dick Wharton's cause is highlighted.
How Dick Wharton Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Dick Wharton is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Dick Wharton was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Cleburne County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
