Roll of Honor
William C. Watts
Incident
Location: Alaska Weapon: Gun; Unknown type Offender: Apprehended
Deputy Marshal William Watts was shot and killed on Admiralty Island, Alaska, while attempting to arrest a gang of outlaws who had broken several inmates out of jail in Juneau eight months prior.
He and a posse surrounded the remote cabin the group was in and called out to the suspects to surrender. The gang opened fire on the posse, killing Deputy Marshal Watts and wounding three other deputy marshals. The posse retreated back to the beach and left the island to seek reinforcements.
The suspects were eventually apprehended by U.S. Marines who had been sent to the island at the request of Alaska's governor.
Deputy Marshal Watts had served with the United States Marshals Service for two years. He was the first peace officer to die in the line of duty in the Alaska Territory, later to become the state of Alaska.
DUSM Watts, On today, the 125th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for our Country.
R.I.P. USBP
Anonymous United States Border Patrol January 24th, 2022
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-867BA526- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew William. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
129 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Watts gave the United States Department of Justice 2 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy U.S. Marshal William C. Watts 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 DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service, 251 of 313 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William C. Watts's cause is highlighted.
How William C. Watts Compares
Offender Outcome
Apprehended
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William C. Watts is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William C. Watts was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
312 officers from United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
