Roll of Honor
William Everette Wheeler
Incident
Chief Deputy Sheriff William Wheeler was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man for false pretense. He and a posse had gone to the man's shack near Brock Mountain to serve the warrant. As Chief Deputy Wheeler went to the back of the shack the man ran outside and opened fire on him, killing him. The subject was arrested following a large manhunt. The man was convicted of Chief Deputy Wheeler's murder and was executed by electrocution on February 23rd, 1935. Chief Deputy Wheeler had served with the Independence County Sheriff's Department for four years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AR-E2088B2B- 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.
Chief Deputy Sheriff Wheeler gave the Independence County Sheriff's Office 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Batesville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief Deputy Sheriff Wheeler.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief Deputy Sheriff William Everette Wheeler 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 Independence County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Everette Wheeler's cause is highlighted.
How William Everette Wheeler Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1935
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Everette Wheeler is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Everette Wheeler was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Independence County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
