W. A. Hyers
Agency patch
Town Marshal

W. A. Hyers

Adel Police Department — Adel, GA
Felonious
End of Watch May 26, 1902
The Vigil Panel 17 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Town Marshal W.A. Hyers was shot and mortally wounded by an 18-year-old man whom he attempted to arrest on a warrant for illegal gambling.

As Marshal Hyers approached, the suspect produced a pistol and shot him through his abdomen. The suspect was apprehended in Bayboro, Georgia, the next day. Marshal Hyers succumbed to his wound four days later.

The suspect was convicted of first degree murder and hanged September 12th, 1902. Marshal Hyers' daughter stood beside the subject as the death trap was sprung and then used her father's knife to cut the suspect down.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-C269CBDA
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.
Town Marshal Hyers served with the Adel Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Adel community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Town Marshal Hyers.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Adel, Cook County, GA
Platform Identity apd.cook.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 26, 1902
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun; Pistol

Town Marshal W. A. Hyers 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 GA, 549 of 905 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 60.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

Adel Police Department
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
GA — Statewide
549
of 905 officers
60.7% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. W. A. Hyers's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How W. A. Hyers Compares

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. W. A. Hyers is highlighted in May.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. W. A. Hyers was killed by handgun; pistol.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from Adel Police Department are honored on badge.nw.