Lester Wood

Clark County Sheriff's Office — Vancouver, WA

Felonious

End of Watch May 22, 1927

The Vigil Panel 53 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Sheriff Wood was shot and killed as he and other deputies were searching for illegal stills in the woods of Clark County. While walking a trail, they encountered a man carrying a rifle. Sheriff Wood ordered the man stop, but the man instead shot him. Sheriff Wood returned fire and wounded the suspect. The man was arrested and convicted of Sheriff Wood's murder. The man was hanged at Walla Walla State Prison.

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Permanent identifier: BO-US-WA-2A17513A
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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.
Sheriff Wood served with the Clark County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Vancouver community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Wood.

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

Agency

Department Clark County Sheriff's Office

Location Vancouver, WA

Platform Identity ccso.clark.wa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 22, 1927

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle

Offender Executed

Sheriff Lester Wood 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 WA, 187 of 339 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55.2% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Clark County Sheriff's Office, 4 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80% of this agency's fallen.

Clark County Sheriff's Office

of 5 officers

80% Felonious

WA — Statewide

187

of 339 officers

55.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious