Wilbur B. Souter
Agency patch
Chief of Police

Wilbur B. Souter

Ellaville Police Department — Ellaville, GA
Felonious
End of Watch December 24, 1934
Age 41
The Vigil Panel 69 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Chief Souter was shot and killed while transporting a 17 year old boy he had arrested for shoplifting to jail. The suspect grabbed the chiefs service revolver and shot him once, killing him instantly. Officers captured the suspect in a swamp near Ellaville the next day. The suspect was convicted of Chief Souter's murder. He was executed in the electric chair on January 21, 1935.

Survivors

Chief Souter is survived by his wife and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-6A76A307
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.
Chief of Police Souter served with the Ellaville Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Ellaville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Souter.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Ellaville, Schley County, GA
Platform Identity epd.schley.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 24, 1934
Age 41
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Officer's handgun

Chief of Police Wilbur B. Souter 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%.

At Ellaville Police Department, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.

Ellaville Police Department
2
of 3 officers
66.7% 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. Wilbur B. Souter's cause is highlighted.

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

How Wilbur B. Souter Compares

Age at Death
41
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Wilbur B. Souter is highlighted in Dec.

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. Wilbur B. Souter was killed by officer's handgun.

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

2 officers from Ellaville Police Department are honored on badge.nw.