Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Wad Allen was shot and killed, and Deputy Sheriff William Clark was shot and fatally wounded when they attempted to arrest a man, and his wife wanted in a contract killing.
When Sheriff Allen and Deputy Clark arrived at the couple's home, they were ambushed by them and shot. Sheriff Allen was killed instantly. Deputy Clark died two days later.
Both suspects and a third man involved in the contract killing were arrested and executed in the electric chair on January 15, 1943.
Deputy Clark's brother, the ex-sheriff of Edgefield County, was appointed to succeed Sheriff Allen.
Sheriff Allen was a United States Army veteran.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, and brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-A874D638- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Sheriff Allen served with the Edgefield County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Edgefield community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Wad D. Allen served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Sheriff Wad D. Allen 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 SC, 271 of 438 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.9% of this state's fallen. That is 7.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Edgefield County Sheriff's Department, 3 of 3 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. Wad D. Allen's cause is highlighted.
How Wad D. Allen Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1943
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Wad D. Allen is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Wad D. Allen was killed by shotgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Edgefield County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
