Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Sylvester Villa was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a burglary suspect. He and two other deputies had tracked the suspect to a river, where they lost the track. The other two deputies returned to the patrol car while Deputy Villa began to backtrack the route. He located a man sleeping in the brush and nudged him with his foot. The man suddenly turned over and shot Deputy Villa in the groin. Deputy VIlla was transported to Yuma Hospital where he died a short time later. The man, 27, fled the scene but was later apprehended. He was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 70 years in prison. An annual shooting competition, the Sylvester Villa Match, is held in Yuma in Deputy Villa's honor. Deputy Villa had served with the Yuma County Sheriff's Office for 13 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and six children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AZ-A5702FA1- 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 Villa gave the Yuma County Sheriff's Office 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Yuma community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Villa.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Sylvester Castillo Villa 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 AZ, 204 of 330 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 61.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Yuma County Sheriff's Office, 5 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 83.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Sylvester Castillo Villa's cause is highlighted.
How Sylvester Castillo Villa Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Sylvester Castillo Villa is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Sylvester Castillo Villa was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Yuma County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
