Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief of Police Ed Ziglar was shot and killed while he and a police officer from the Madison Police Department attempted to serve warrants on to twin brothers near Cardwell Mills.
They were confronted by the two 22-year-old brothers and their father. The father opened fire with a shotgun, shooting Chief Ziglar in the face and body. The other officer was able to retreat to safety and called for assistance. All three men were arrested and charged with Chief Ziglar's murder.
The father was tried and acquitted. His two sons were convicted of second degree murder and sentenced from 12 to 25 years. One was pardoned by Governor Max Gardner on March 14, 1929. On April 22, 1933, he was shot and killed by his nephew in Mayodan. On July 18, 1923, the other brother escaped from Caledonia Prison in Halifax County. He was captured three months later in Stokes, Pitt County. He was paroled before 1930 and killed in an automobile accident in Virginia in 1941.
Chief Ziglar had served with the Mayodan Police Department for five years and had previously served with the Winston-Salem Police Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and six children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-21218679- Stewardship
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- 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.
Chief of Police Ziglar served with the Mayodan Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Mayodan community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Ziglar.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police Edward Coleman Ziglar 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 NC, 385 of 664 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58% of this state's fallen. That is 3.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Edward Coleman Ziglar's cause is highlighted.
How Edward Coleman Ziglar Compares
Offender Outcome
Charged with murder
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Edward Coleman Ziglar is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Edward Coleman Ziglar was killed by shotgun.