Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Jerell was shot and killed by stagecoach robbers. Sheriff Jerrell was returning home on a train after attempting to track some outlaws who had fled New Mexico to Texas. He was riding with a Texas Ranger when they were informed that there were stagecoach robbers onboard. When the robbers entered the officer’s stagecoach a gunfight began and Sheriff Jerell was shot and killed. One suspect was also shot by the Texas Ranger but all the suspects were able to escape.
Survivors
Sheriff Jerrell had been with the agency for ten days and was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NM-CAFF24E0- 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
142 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Jerrell served with the Doña Ana County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Las Cruces community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff William L. Jerrell 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 NM, 123 of 193 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.7% of this state's fallen. That is 9.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Doña Ana County Sheriff's Office, 6 of 10 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William L. Jerrell's cause is highlighted.
How William L. Jerrell Compares
Offender Outcome
One Shot - all never captured
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William L. Jerrell is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William L. Jerrell was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
9 officers from Doña Ana County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
