Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief of Police Bill Barrow succumbed to a gunshot wound he received from a man he arrested for drunkenness.
The subject resisted arrest, snatched the chief's pistol, and shot him through the abdomen. Chief Barrow passed away five days later.
The subject was arrested a short time later. Minutes after his arrest, the suspect was seized from the local jail by a mob of more than 400 men and hanged.
Chief Barrow was a Civil War Confederate Soldier and served with the Americus Police Department for 22 years, with eight years as the Chief of Police.
He is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Americus, Georgia.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, brother, and two nieces.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-50DC2EB4- 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.
Chief of Police Barrow gave the Americus Police Department 22 years.
Thank you for your service to the Americus 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
William Cyrus Barrow served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Chief of Police William Cyrus Barrow 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 GA, 548 of 903 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 6.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Americus Police Dept., 4 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Cyrus Barrow's cause is highlighted.
How William Cyrus Barrow Compares
Offender Outcome
Lynched
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Cyrus Barrow is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Cyrus Barrow was killed by officer's handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Americus Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
