George A. Stillwell

Suffolk County Sheriff's Office — Yaphank, NY

Felonious

End of Watch August 10, 1906

Age 27

The Vigil Panel 21 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 5

Incident

Deputy Sheriff George Stillwell succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained when he was shot by a man he had just arrested.

Deputy Stilwell was sent to a farm in Wading River with an arrest warrant for a suspect who was trespassing on a farm. Deputy Stillwell arrested the suspect and placed him in the rear of his carriage and proceeded to drive toward the court in Riverhead. As the carriage started moving the suspect sprang from his seat and ran for the woods. Deputy Stillwell was able to apprehend the man again and placed him in the rear of the carriage, this time with his arms and legs tied with rope. After the carriage had gone about a half-mile the suspect was able to free himself from the ropes, reach into his rear pocket, draw a revolver and fire twice. The first shot hit Deputy Stillwell in the back of the neck and the seconds shot struck him in the mouth and he turned toward the suspect. The suspect then ran from the carriage into the woods.

Deputy Stillwell was taken to a local hospital where he underwent surgery. He succumbed to his wounds 14 days later.

The suspect was apprehended eight days after the shooting and was charged with assault. When Deputy Stillwell died the charge was upgraded to murder. He was convicted of murder in 1907 and sentenced to life in prison.

Deputy Stillwell was survived by his wife.

Survivors

Deputy Stillwell was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NY-19161E34
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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 Stillwell served with the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Yaphank community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Stillwell.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Suffolk County Sheriff's Office

Type Sheriff's Office

Location Yaphank, Suffolk County, NY

Platform Identity scso.suffolk.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 10, 1906

Age 27

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun; Revolver

Deputy Sheriff George A. Stillwell 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 NY, 728 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.9% of this state's fallen. That is 33.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Suffolk County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Suffolk County Sheriff's Office

of 6 officers

50% Felonious

NY — Statewide

728

of 2,147 officers

33.9% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious