William H. Hendricks
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

William H. Hendricks

Felonious
End of Watch February 15, 1866
The Vigil Panel 3 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Hendricks was shot and killed as two suspects escaped from the county jail. As Deputy Hendricks served the suspects their food he was attacked. One suspect was choking Deputy Hendricks while the other took his gun. One suspect fired Deputy Hendricks gun, but missed. Deputy Hendricks drew a derringer he had hidden in his boot and fired at one suspect striking him. Both suspects then fled onto the street with Deputy Hendricks in close pursuit. On the street a gun battle erupted and Deputy Hendricks shot and killed. Both suspect were later arrested.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-7904700B
Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

160 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Hendricks served with the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the San Jose community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location San Jose, Santa Clara County, CA
Platform Identity sccso.santaclara.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 15, 1866
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Officer's handgun

Deputy Sheriff William H. Hendricks 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 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 53 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office, 5 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 71.4% of this agency's fallen.

Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office
5
of 7 officers
71.4% Felonious
CA — Statewide
974
of 1,837 officers
53% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William H. Hendricks's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How William H. Hendricks Compares

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William H. Hendricks is highlighted in Feb.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William H. Hendricks was killed by officer's handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909