William Ellis

Mingo County Sheriff's Department — Williamson, WV

Felonious

End of Watch August 21, 1918

The Vigil Panel 34 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Deputy Sheriff William Ellis and Deputy Sheriff George Dillon were shot and killed while attempting to arrest several military deserters between Breeden and Dingess, West Virginia.

The subject who shot them turned himself in 18 months later and was sentenced to life in prison.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-WV-45A6F9B6
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Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: September 9, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Ellis served with the Mingo County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Williamson community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Ellis.

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

Agency

Department Mingo County Sheriff's Department

Type Other

Location Williamson, Mingo County, WV

Platform Identity mcso.mingo.wv.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 21, 1918

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Deputy Sheriff William Ellis 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 WV, 169 of 232 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.8% of this state's fallen. That is 72.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Mingo County Sheriff's Department, 4 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80% of this agency's fallen.

Mingo County Sheriff's Department

of 5 officers

80% Felonious

WV — Statewide

169

of 232 officers

72.8% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious