Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief Francis Wilmoth was shot and killed while arresting two suspects. A third suspect shot him from an ambush position.
Two of the men were lynched by an angry mob two days later. The third suspect was arrested by a posse who located him hiding in the mountains near Montrose.
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BO-US-WV-2BAE6188- 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 Wilmoth served with the Coalton Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Coalton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Wilmoth.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police Francis Hays Wilmoth 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 WV, 169 of 232 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.8% of this state's fallen. That is 18.6 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. Francis Hays Wilmoth's cause is highlighted.
How Francis Hays Wilmoth Compares
Offender Outcome
Lynched by mob
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Francis Hays Wilmoth is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Francis Hays Wilmoth was killed by gun; unknown type.