Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Roy Curtis was shot and mortally wounded in West Memphis by a man he attempted to arrest. Deputy Curtis died in a Memphis hospital four days later.
The suspect was convicted of first degree murder and executed in the electric chair on December 1st, 1944.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AR-53D667E2- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Curtis served with the Crittenden County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the West Memphis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Curtis.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Roy Curtis 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 Crittenden County Sheriff's Office, 6 of 6 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. Roy Curtis's cause is highlighted.
How Roy Curtis Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1944
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Roy Curtis is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Roy Curtis was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Crittenden County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
