William Franklin Edwards

Mono County Sheriff's Office — Bridgeport, CA

Felonious

End of Watch April 29, 1907

Age 48

The Vigil Panel 21 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Deputy Sheriff William Edwards was shot and killed as he attempted to arrest three men for public drunkenness in Benton, California.

The three men had harassed a young woman near the town's depot before they were runoff by two citizens. The citizens told Deputy Edwards of the encounter and then accompanied him back to the area to arrest the men.

During the arrest one of the men began to struggle with Deputy Edwards, disarmed him of his rifle, and then fatally shot him. One of the citizens then grabbed the rifle, and when neither man could take control of it, mutually agreed to empty the remaining rounds. Once the rounds were removed the two citizens fled the area and notified the sheriff. All three men were arrested and charged in connection with Deputy Edwards' murder. The subject who shot him was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to three years in prison. A second subject was sentenced to eight months for assault.

Deputy Edwards was survived by his wife, two adopted children, and his parents.

Survivors

Deputy Edwards was survived by his wife, two adopted children, and his parents.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CA-DB1CA88C
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Edwards served with the Mono County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Bridgeport community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Edwards.

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

Agency

Department Mono County Sheriff's Office

Location Bridgeport, CA

Platform Identity mcso.mono.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 29, 1907

Age 48

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Officer's rifle

Offender Sentenced to 3 years

Deputy Sheriff William Franklin Edwards 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 CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Mono County Sheriff's Office, 5 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Mono County Sheriff's Office

of 5 officers

100% Felonious

CA — Statewide

974

of 1,837 officers

53% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious