William Thomas Herbin

North Carolina Highway Patrol — Raleigh, NC

Felonious

End of Watch August 31, 1964

Age 34

Tour of Duty 14 yrs

The Vigil Panel 99 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 68

Incident

Patrolman Bill Herbin pulled over a vehicle occupied by four men 12 miles north of Raeford on U.S. 401. The driver resisted when Patrolman Herbin attempted to arrest him for driving under the influence and not having a drivers license. A fight resulted with the driver and one of the three other occupants. Patrolman Herbin was severely beaten, relieved of his service revolver, and shot three times in the head by the driver. All four suspects were arrested the same day. The driver and the suspect who attacked Patrolman Herbin were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison on December 12th, 1964. Charges against the other two suspects were dropped. On June 3rd, 1965, the North Carolina State Supreme Court ordered the release of the suspect who aided the driver stating that evidence against him was insufficient to convict him. Patrolman Herbin's killer was paroled on January 3rd, 1984. Patrolman Herbin is survived by his wife and 13-year-old daughter. A new Cape Fear Valley Health facility was built on the spot where Patrolman Herbin was killed. In November 2013 a monument recognizing his sacrifice was erected on the facilities campus.

Survivors

Patrolman Herbin is survived by his wife and 13-year-old daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NC-292764E4
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.
Patrolman Herbin gave the North Carolina Highway Patrol 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of North Carolina. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Herbin.

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

Agency

Department North Carolina Highway Patrol

Location Raleigh, NC

Platform Identity nchp.nc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 31, 1964

Tour of Duty 14 yrs

Age 34

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Paroled in 1984

Patrolman William Thomas Herbin 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 NC, 385 of 664 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58% of this state's fallen. That is 3.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At North Carolina Highway Patrol, 23 of 69 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.

North Carolina Highway Patrol

of 69 officers

33.3% Felonious

NC — Statewide

385

of 664 officers

58% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious