Roll of Honor

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Deputy Sheriff

Malachi Thomas Thacker

Yell County Sheriff's Department — Danville, AR

Felonious

End of Watch December 27, 1929

Age 36

Tour of Duty

The Vigil Panel 58 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Malachi Thacker was shot and killed while he and another deputy served a warrant on a juvenile at the boy's home.

Malachi T. Thacker was appointed as a Special Deputy on the afternoon of December 27, 1929. Thacker, who was a United States Postal Carrier, accompanied Deputy Robert Gatlin and Deputy Arthur “Poss” Mitchell, to apprehend a mentally ill man reportedly causing disturbances in the Waltreak Community.

While they were handcuffing the boy, the father opened a door to the room and shot Deputy Thacker with a shotgun.

Deputy Thacker was survived by his wife, four children, four brothers, and a sister.

Survivors

Deputy Thacker was survived by his wife, four children, four brothers, and a sister.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AR-9F090520
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 Thacker served with the Yell County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Danville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Thacker.

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

Agency

Department Yell County Sheriff's Department

Location Danville, AR

Platform Identity ycso.yell.ar.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 27, 1929

Tour of Duty

Age 36

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Shotgun

Deputy Sheriff Malachi Thomas Thacker 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 Yell County Sheriff's 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.

Yell County Sheriff's Department

of 2 officers

100% 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. Malachi Thomas Thacker'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 Malachi Thomas Thacker Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Malachi Thomas Thacker is highlighted in Dec.

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. Malachi Thomas Thacker was killed by shotgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Yell County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.