Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Bill White was shot and killed while he and a game warden were conducting an investigation into the theft of sheep. They were watching a home at a Feliz Creek ranch near Hopland, where suspicious activity had been reported. They had left their car some distance from the house, and Deputy White was walking towards it when a ranch hand, 23, and the homeowner's son, 27, opened fire from outside the home. Deputy White was fatally wounded but managed to return fire, seriously wounding the owner's son. The game warden, who was walking to the home from a different direction, did not hear the shots. The ranch hand ran a mile to a phone at a store and informed the county sheriff about what had happened. Both said they saw the car stop several yards from the home, and the lights turned off. They said it was very dark and mistook Deputy White for a prowler and opened fire. Both were charged with murder, but the charges were later reduced to manslaughter. On October 1, 1950, their trial ended with a hung jury. There was never a new trial, and the charges were dismissed. Deputy White had served with the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office for four years. He was survived by his wife, four children, and three brothers. One of his brothers served with the California Highway Patrol.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, four children, and three brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-B50F5FC2- 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.
Deputy Sheriff White gave the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Ukiah community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff White.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff William A. White 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 CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 53 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Mendocino 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 A. White's cause is highlighted.
How William A. White Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William A. White is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William A. White was killed by rifle.
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Mendocino County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
