Moses Ford

Independence County Sheriff's Office — Batesville, AR

Felonious

End of Watch December 23, 1871

Age 48

The Vigil Panel 4 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 3

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Moses Ford was killed when he was struck in the head with an axe while attempting to make an arrest in Batesville. Deputy Ford got into an altercation with a man who then pulled out a pistol and threatened him on Main Street. Deputy Ford managed to wrestle the pistol from the man and told him to consider himself under arrest. When told to report to the mayor in two days for a hearing, the suspect said he would not show up, and ran into a nearby house. Deputy Ford picked up an axe in the yard, tried to enter the home, but was refused entrance. He then busted down the door with the axe and entered. The suspect managed to take the axe from Deputy Ford and struck him in the head killing him. The suspect was arrested and jailed. Deputy Ford was survived by his wife and son. He is buried in Shaw Cemetery, Mount Pleasant, Arkansas. Deputy Ford served also served as the city marshal of Batesville.

Survivors

Deputy Ford was survived by his wife and son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AR-3256774C
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

155 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Ford served with the Independence County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Batesville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Independence County Sheriff's Office

Location Batesville, AR

Platform Identity icso.independence.ar.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 23, 1871

Age 48

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Edged weapon; Axe

Offender Arrested

Deputy Sheriff Moses Ford 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 AR, 249 of 372 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.9% of this state's fallen. That is 12.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Independence County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.

Independence County Sheriff's Office

of 4 officers

75% Felonious

AR — Statewide

249

of 372 officers

66.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious