Willie B. Ellis

Fort Pierce Police Department — Fort Pierce, FL

Felonious

End of Watch July 17, 1966

Age 43

The Vigil Panel 101 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 3

Incident

Sergeant Ellis was shot and killed after he and another officer responded to a domestic disturbance call. The male suspect opened fire on the officers, striking Sergeant Ellis five times and wounding the other officer twice. Sergeant Ellis' partner managed to return fire seriously wounding the suspect. It was later learned the suspect had escaped from MacClenney State Mental Hospital. The suspect was convicted of Sergeant Ellis' murder and sentenced to life. He died in prison in 2003.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-FL-35CCDDED
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.
Sergeant Ellis served with the Fort Pierce Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Fort Pierce community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Ellis.

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

Agency

Department Fort Pierce Police Department

Location Fort Pierce, FL

Platform Identity fppd.stlucie.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 17, 1966

Age 43

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Died in prison

Sergeant Willie B. Ellis 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 Fort Pierce Police Department, 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Fort Pierce Police Department

of 4 officers

100% Felonious

FL — Statewide

539

of 1,008 officers

53.5% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious