William S. McPherren
Agency patch
Undersheriff

William S. McPherren

Felonious
End of Watch October 7, 1921
The Vigil Panel 42 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Undersheriff McPherren was shot and killed while attempting to raid an illegal whiskey still north of Sheridan. The suspect was found not guilty when it could not be determined who fired the fatal shot.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-WY-83C000C8
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Undersheriff McPherren served with the Sheridan County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Sheridan community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Undersheriff McPherren.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Sheridan, Sheridan County, WY
Platform Identity scso.sheridan.wy.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 7, 1921
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Undersheriff William S. McPherren 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 WY, 41 of 63 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 65.1% of this state's fallen. That is 65.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Sheridan County Sheriff's Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Sheridan County Sheriff's Department
1
of 2 officers
50% Felonious
WY — Statewide
41
of 63 officers
65.1% 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 S. McPherren's cause is highlighted.

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

How William S. McPherren Compares

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William S. McPherren is highlighted in Oct.

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 S. McPherren was killed by gun.

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

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Sheridan County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.