William Thomas Maxwell

Apache County Sheriff's Office — St. Johns, AZ

Felonious

End of Watch October 8, 1901

Age 38

The Vigil Panel 17 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 6

Incident

Deputy Sheriff William Maxwell was shot and killed during a shootout along Reservation Creek near the Black River. He was riding with a posse that was tracking the Bill Smith Gang. Ranger Tafolla and Deputy Sheriff Bill Maxwell, of the Apache County Sheriff's Office, were approaching the gang when one of the gang members asked how they should surrender. As the man was approaching them he was dragging his rifle behind him but brought it up and shot Deputy Maxwell in the head, killing him instantly. Ranger Tafolla was shot twice in the torso and died that night. The suspect fled to Argentina and was never apprehended. As Ranger Tafolla was dying, he pulled out a silver dollar and asked that it be given to his wife as it, and his unpaid wages, would be all that she would get. A two-year pension was later approved for her when the story was told. Officer Maxwell was survived by his mother and four siblings. He is buried in Maxwell Cemetery, Nutriosio, Apache County, Arizona.

Survivors

Officer Maxwell was survived by his mother and four siblings.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AZ-A9EB6A19
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 Maxwell served with the Apache County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the St. Johns community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Maxwell.

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

Agency

Department Apache County Sheriff's Office

Location St. Johns, AZ

Platform Identity acso.apache.az.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 8, 1901

Age 38

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Never apprehended

Deputy Sheriff William Thomas Maxwell 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 AZ, 204 of 330 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 7.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Apache 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.

Apache County Sheriff's Office

of 7 officers

71.4% Felonious

AZ — Statewide

204

of 330 officers

61.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious