Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Gober was shot and killed while attempting to arrest several bootleggers in an old stable. Deputy Gober was shot twice during the arrest. Deputy Gober was taken to a hospital where he died a short time later. The suspect was arrested a month later in Columbus, Ohio.
The suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. He was granted a new trial when it was discovered that some of the jurors during his trial had acted inappropriately. His second trial in 1925 resulted in a manslaughter conviction, and he was sentenced to three years. His conviction and sentence were based on testimony from a witness who said he saw another deputy accidentally shoot Deputy Gober. Hamilton County citizens were livid over the conviction, especially days later when the witness admitted that his testimony was false. The witness was convicted of perjury and sentenced to 1.5 years plus another 1.5 years for manslaughter resulting from a motor vehicle accident in which he was at fault, and a man was killed.
Regarding Deputy Gober's killer; the 5th amendment states once a subject is convicted of a crime he cannot be tried for the same crime twice.
Deputy Gober was survived by his wife.
Survivors
Deputy Gober was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-76BEBB15- 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 Gober served with the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Chattanooga community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Gober.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff William B. Gober 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 TN, 498 of 769 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.8% of this state's fallen. That is 10.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, 12 of 16 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William B. Gober's cause is highlighted.
How William B. Gober Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 3 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William B. Gober is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William B. Gober was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
15 officers from Hamilton County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
