Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff William Tibbet and Marshal Thomas Packard were shot and killed while attempting to serve a murder warrant on a suspect. The suspect was fatally shot as he attempted to escape by Deputy Tibbet's brother, who was also a deputy sheriff. A second suspect was arrested and sentenced to life in prison for the murders, but committed suicide before the sentence was carried out. Deputy Tibbet was survived by his wife, mother, and five siblings. He is buried in Union Cemetery, Bakersfield, California.
Survivors
Deputy Tibbet was survived by his wife, mother, and five siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-10FDEB9C- 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 Tibbet served with the Kern County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Bakersfield community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Tibbet.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff William E. Tibbet 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 CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Kern County Sheriff's Office, 9 of 28 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 32.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William E. Tibbet's cause is highlighted.
How William E. Tibbet Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William E. Tibbet is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William E. Tibbet was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
27 officers from Kern County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
