Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief of Police Zeb Winters was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man for being drunk in public.
The man had come into town and sent word to Chief Winters that he was in town and drunk. Chief Winters arrested him but was attacked while taking him to jail. The man gained control of Chief Winters' .44 caliber revolver and shot him several times before beating him with the pistol.
The subject was arrested and charged with murder. The trial was held in Boone, North Carolina, and he was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 15 years. He escaped prison but was captured in Oregon a couple of years later.
Chief Winters had only served with the Elk Park Police Department for six months. He was survived by his wife, three children, mother, and six brothers. Close to 12 men who were descendants of Chief Winters served in law enforcement in Avery County, North Carolina, and Carter County, Tennessee, in the decades after his murder.
Chief Winters had only served with the Elk Park Police Department for six months. He was survived by his wife, three children, mother, and six brothers. Close to 12 men who were descendants of Chief Winters served in law enforcement in Avery County, North Carolina, and Carter County, Tennessee, in the decades after his murder.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, three children, mother, and six brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-538556BA- 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.
Chief of Police Winters served with the Elk Park Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Elk Park community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Winters.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police Zeb Winters 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 NC, 385 of 664 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58% of this state's fallen. That is 3.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Elk Park Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Zeb Winters's cause is highlighted.
How Zeb Winters Compares
Offender Outcome
Convicted of murder
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Zeb Winters is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Zeb Winters was killed by officer's handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Elk Park Police Department are honored on badge.nw.