William Saddler

Whitley County Sheriff's Office — Williamsburg, KY

Felonious

End of Watch February 29, 1892

The Vigil Panel 11 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 6

Incident

Deputy Sheriff William Saddler was shot and killed by a man he had attempted to arrest earlier in the evening for being drunk in public and creating a disturbance in Corbin.

The man was able to escape during the initial arrest and went to the home of a friend to retrieve a shotgun. He returned to town 30 minutes later and went to a local diner. When Deputy Saddler entered the diner to confront him, the subject rose from his table and shot him in the stomach.

The suspect turned himself in and was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 1893. He was released after a few years.

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Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

134 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Saddler served with the Whitley County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Williamsburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Whitley County Sheriff's Office

Location Williamsburg, KY

Platform Identity wcso.whitley.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 29, 1892

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun

Offender Sentenced to 15 years

Deputy Sheriff William Saddler 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 KY, 755 of 983 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.8% of this state's fallen. That is 22.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Whitley County Sheriff's Office, 7 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Whitley County Sheriff's Office

of 7 officers

100% Felonious

KY — Statewide

755

of 983 officers

76.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious