Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief of Police William Wilson was shot and killed while attempting to serve a warrant on a man for assaulting two officers earlier in the week. The man was a local tow truck operator and assaulted the two officers when they attempted to serve another warrant for refusing to present his driver's license during a traffic stop. Chief Wilson had gone to the man's home at 3550 Old Highway 9 and attempted to arrest him. Shots were exchanged between the two and Chief Wilson was struck in the head by a round fired with a 7mm hunting rifle. The man was arrested and charged with first-degree murder but the charges were later dismissed when a grand jury failed to return a true bill. The man was later elected to be the town's mayor in the early 1980s. Chief Wilson was an Alabama National Guard veteran and had served as the Cedar Bluff police chief for only three weeks. He had previously served with the Piedmont Police Department and the Delaware County, Indiana, Sheriff's Office.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, daughter, three sons, parents, two brothers, and five sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-216BBB4A- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Chief of Police Wilson served with the Cedar Bluff Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Cedar Bluff community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
William Howard Wilson served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Chief of Police William Howard Wilson 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 AL, 405 of 643 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63% of this state's fallen. That is 8.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Cedar Bluff Police Dept., 1 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Howard Wilson's cause is highlighted.
How William Howard Wilson Compares
Offender Outcome
Deceased
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Howard Wilson is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Howard Wilson was killed by rifle; 7.62 mm.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Cedar Bluff Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
