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Deputy Sheriff

Charles Edward Williams

DeSoto County Sheriff's Office — Arcadia, FL

Felonious

End of Watch August 22, 1903

Age 43

The Vigil Panel 18 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 2

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Charles Williams was shot and killed as he and a Punta Gorda policeman attempted to arrest a drunk man at 4:00 am.

During the arrest, the man resisted and was struck by one of the officers. One of his friends took offense to the arrest and opened fire with a pistol, killing Deputy Williams. Both men were arrested and charged with first-degree murder but were later acquitted.

Deputy Williams was a widower who was survived by eight children.

Survivors

Deputy Williams was a widower who was survived by eight children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-FL-25FF9221
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 Williams served with the DeSoto County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Arcadia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Williams.

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

Agency

Department DeSoto County Sheriff's Office

Location Arcadia, FL

Platform Identity dcso.desoto.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 22, 1903

Age 43

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Deputy Sheriff Charles Edward Williams 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 FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 0.7 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At DeSoto County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

DeSoto County Sheriff's Office

of 3 officers

100% Felonious

FL — Statewide

539

of 1,008 officers

53.5% 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. Charles Edward Williams'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 Charles Edward Williams Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles Edward Williams is highlighted in Aug.

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.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from DeSoto County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.