Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Malachi Thacker was shot and killed while he and another deputy served a warrant on a juvenile at the boy's home.
Malachi T. Thacker was appointed as a Special Deputy on the afternoon of December 27, 1929. Thacker, who was a United States Postal Carrier, accompanied Deputy Robert Gatlin and Deputy Arthur “Poss” Mitchell, to apprehend a mentally ill man reportedly causing disturbances in the Waltreak Community.
While they were handcuffing the boy, the father opened a door to the room and shot Deputy Thacker with a shotgun.
Deputy Thacker was survived by his wife, four children, four brothers, and a sister.
Survivors
Deputy Thacker was survived by his wife, four children, four brothers, and a sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AR-9F090520- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- 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 Thacker served with the Yell County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Danville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Thacker.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Malachi Thomas Thacker 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 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 66.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Yell County Sheriff's Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Malachi Thomas Thacker's cause is highlighted.
How Malachi Thomas Thacker Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Malachi Thomas Thacker is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Malachi Thomas Thacker was killed by shotgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Yell County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
