Will L. Dalton
Agency patch
Constable

Will L. Dalton

Rogers Police Department — Rogers, AR
Felonious
End of Watch January 20, 1891
Age 25
The Vigil Panel 10 ›
Gender Male

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

Location Rogers, AR
Platform Identity rpd.benton.ar.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 20, 1891
Age 25
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Rifle; Winchester
Offender One shot and killed

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.

Rogers Police Department
1
of 2 officers
50% Felonious
AR — Statewide
249
of 372 officers
66.9% 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. Will L. Dalton'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 Will L. Dalton Compares

Age at End of Watch
25
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

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.

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. Will L. Dalton was killed by rifle; winchester.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Rogers Police Department are honored on badge.nw.