Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff William Nettles was shot and killed while attempting to disarm a drunk man who was shooting into the air. The suspect shot Deputy Nettles in the chest.
The suspect, who claimed self defense, was tried and acquitted.
Deputy Nettles was survived by his wife and eight children.
Survivors
Deputy Nettles was survived by his wife and eight children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-5C237845- 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
134 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Nettles served with the Bowie County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Texarkana community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff William Lafayette Nettles 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 TX, 1,461 of 2,422 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 60.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Bowie County Sheriff's Office, 4 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Lafayette Nettles's cause is highlighted.
How William Lafayette Nettles Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Lafayette Nettles is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Bowie County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
