Incident
Constable Will Dalton was shot and killed as he and three officers attempted to arrest two brothers, from Missouri, at a residence near Garfield, Arkansas. Both brothers, ages 20 and 25, were wanted in Lawrence County, Missouri, for beating a justice of the pease nearly to death after he had them arrested for disturbing a church service. Officer Edgar Wright of the Pierce City Police Department, Missouri, died two days later from wounds received in the same gun battle. One of the brothers was later shot and killed and the other brother was captured when he mistakenly jumped into a boxcar containing three posse members sent to arrest him. One gave himself up and the other received a load of buckshot in the back as he attempted to escape. The captured suspect escaped from jail on July 11th, 1891, and was captured on April 5th, 1893, in Decatur, Illinois, and returned to Arkansas. The suspect, now 24, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. On July 11, 1893, he escaped from his guards at the sand pits in Saline County. He made his way toward Little Rock and attempted to swim across the Arkansas River. His body was found lodged in a drift just above Little Rock.
Survivors
Constable Dalton was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AR-382AC7B9- 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
135 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Constable Dalton served with the Rogers Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Rogers community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Constable Will L. Dalton 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 Rogers Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Will L. Dalton's cause is highlighted.
How Will L. Dalton Compares
Offender Outcome
One shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Will L. Dalton is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Will L. Dalton was killed by rifle; winchester.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Rogers Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
