Roll of Honor

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Deputy Sheriff

Willie Harvey Comfort

Scott County Sheriff's Office — Forest, MS

Felonious

End of Watch February 17, 1946

Age 35

The Vigil Panel 82 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Harvey Comfort was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a poacher in the Ludlow area.

Deputy Comfort, who also served as a deputy game warden, had been contacted by a pastor of a church in the area who reported the poacher. Deputy Comfort and citizen encountered the poacher's dogs chasing a deer across the roadway. As they backtracked the dog's path they encountered the hunter walking toward them with his shotgun under his arm. As Deputy Comfort approached him and pushed the shotgun away it discharged, fatally wounding him. The shooting was ruled an accident. No charges were filed.

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." Matthew 5:9

Chris Di Gerolamo Federal Air Marshal Service July 30th, 2021

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MS-97A84ED0
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Comfort served with the Scott County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Forest community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Comfort.

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

Agency

Department Scott County Sheriff's Office

Location Forest, MS

Platform Identity scso.scott.ms.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 17, 1946

Age 35

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Deputy Sheriff Willie Harvey Comfort 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 MS, 242 of 349 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.3% of this state's fallen. That is 15.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Scott County Sheriff's Office

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

MS — Statewide

242

of 349 officers

69.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Willie Harvey Comfort's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Willie Harvey Comfort Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Willie Harvey Comfort is highlighted in Feb.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518