Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Edmonds was shot and killed during an escape from the Baxter County Courthouse Jail. He and a city marshal had gone to the third floor of the courthouse to feed the prisoners breakfast. While Sheriff Edmonds talked to two of the prisoners they suddenly attacked him and one shot him with a .32 caliber handgun that had been smuggled to him by his wife earlier. The shooter escaped but was apprehended three days later in Cotter. The suspect, 30, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in 1969. He was still in prison on January 1, 1999.
Survivors
Sheriff Edmonds had been with the agency for ten years and was survived by his wife, daughter and two sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AR-662E5777- 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.
Sheriff Edmonds gave the Baxter County Sheriff's Office 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Mountain Home community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Edmonds.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Emmett O. Edmonds 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 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 12.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Baxter County Sheriff's Dept., 2 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 40% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Emmett O. Edmonds's cause is highlighted.
How Emmett O. Edmonds Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Emmett O. Edmonds is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Emmett O. Edmonds was killed by handgun; .25 caliber.
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Baxter County Sheriff's Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
