Willis Edwin Sanders Sr.

Anderson Police Department — Anderson, SC

Felonious

End of Watch April 15, 1947

Age 41

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

The Vigil Panel 83 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Patrolman Willis Sanders was shot and killed while investigating a burglary at the Anderson Creamery at 412 North Main Street. He and another patrolman were on patrol at 12:45 am when they observed a door to a business that was open. They called for backup and then, when the backup officers arrived, entered the business. As Patrolman Sanders opened an interior door the suspect opened fire, mortally wounding him. The suspect, who was inside the store stealing sugar, was arrested a short time later after other officers fired tear gas into the building. Patrolman Sanders was transported to Anderson Hospital where he died from his wounds four hours later. The suspect was convicted of first-degree murder and executed in the electric chair on July 11th, 1947. Patrolman Sanders had served with the Anderson Police Department for 10 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, father, two brothers, and sister.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-SC-B2CDD73A
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.
Patrolman Sanders gave the Anderson Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Anderson community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Sanders.

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

Agency

Department Anderson Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Anderson, Anderson County, SC

Platform Identity apd.anderson.sc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 15, 1947

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Age 41

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

Patrolman Willis Edwin Sanders Sr. 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 SC, 272 of 441 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.7% of this state's fallen. That is 61.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Anderson Police Department, 2 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 40% of this agency's fallen.

Anderson Police Department

of 5 officers

40% Felonious

SC — Statewide

272

of 441 officers

61.7% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious