William A. Daniels

Cochise County Sheriff's Department — Bisbee, AZ

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch June 9, 1885

Age 44

The Vigil Panel 8 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 14

Incident

Deputy Sheriff William Daniels was killed when he was ambushed by Apache Indians near Bisbee. He was riding with two companions when his horse was shot and killed. The horse fell on him, pinning him to the ground. He used his rifle to defend himself, but was quickly overwhelmed by the Indians, who cut his throat. His companions fled back to Bisbee for help. When they returned, they were unable to locate the Indians. In 1883, he apprehended three of the five men who killed Deputy Sheriff Tom Smith of the Cochise County Sheriff's Department. Deputy Daniels was a Union Civil War Veteran who served as a private with the Nebraska 2nd Cavalry, Company E.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and five young children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AZ-B534CBEA
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.
Deputy Sheriff Daniels served with the Cochise County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Bisbee community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Cochise County Sheriff's Department

Location Bisbee, AZ

Platform Identity ccso.cochise.az.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 9, 1885

Age 44

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Edged weapon; Knife

Offender Never apprehended

Military Service

William A. Daniels served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Deputy Sheriff William A. Daniels 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 AZ, 204 of 330 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 7.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Cochise County Sheriff's Department, 14 of 15 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 93.3% of this agency's fallen.

Cochise County Sheriff's Department

of 15 officers

93.3% Felonious

AZ — Statewide

204

of 330 officers

61.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious