Roll of Honor

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Deputy Sheriff

Wade Hampton Coleman

Tattnall County Sheriff's Office — Reidsville, GA

Felonious

End of Watch July 24, 1920

Age 25

The Vigil Panel 39 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Wade Coleman was shot and killed while searching a vehicle for illegal liquor near Cobbtown.

During the traffic stop of one of the four occupants of the vehicle started a struggle with Deputy Coleman's partner. The subject was able to gain control of a rifle and shot Deputy Coleman in the head, killing him and wounding his partner. The other three suspects then shot at Deputy Coleman as he was on the ground.

All four suspects were arrested and given life sentences in November 1920. One was paroled on November 5, 1931.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-GA-D0A8140A
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 Coleman served with the Tattnall County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Reidsville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Coleman.

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

Agency

Department Tattnall County Sheriff's Office

Type Sheriff's Office

Location Reidsville, Tattnall County, GA

Platform Identity tcso.tattnall.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 24, 1920

Age 25

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Rifle

Deputy Sheriff Wade Hampton Coleman 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%.

Tattnall County Sheriff's Office

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

GA — Statewide

549

of 905 officers

60.7% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Wade Hampton Coleman's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

1 (0%)

Accident

1 (0%)

Illness

1 (0%)

Cardiac

1 (0%)

Undetermined

1 (0%)

Suicide

1 (0%)

How Wade Hampton Coleman Compares

Age at Death

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Wade Hampton Coleman is highlighted in Jul.

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. Wade Hampton Coleman was killed by rifle.

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 Tattnall County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.