Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff John Woods was shot and killed near White Station while attempting to arrest a man who had walked away from a work crew.
The man had been sentenced for a previous shooting and was assigned to a crew working on the roads in Ashley County. He was granted permission to visit his mother while the crew was close to her house, but he failed to return. As Deputy Woods searched for him to bring him back the man emerged on the road in front of him. When Deputy Woods called out to him the man opened fire, shooting him in the chest and killing him instantly.
The subject was arrested and charged with his murder.
Deputy Woods had served with the Ashley County Sheriff's Department for one year.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AR-DE06FC65- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
You barely got started.
Deputy Sheriff Woods gave the Ashley County Sheriff's Office 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Hamburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Woods.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff John William Woods is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 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 66.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Ashley County Sheriff's Office, 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. John William Woods's cause is highlighted.
How John William Woods Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John William Woods is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John William Woods was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Ashley County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
