Arnold William Wilkerson

Orange County Sheriff's Office — Orlando, FL

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch January 10, 1984

Age 60

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

The Vigil Panel 127 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 20

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Arnie Wilkerson was shot and killed while acting as a bailiff at the Orange County Courthouse. A suspect had gone to the courthouse with the intention of shooting a police officer who had given him a traffic ticket. The suspect entered a courtroom and exchanged gunfire with Deputy Sheriff Harry Dalton, mortally wounding him. He then shot and killed Deputy Arnold Wilkerson in the courtroom and shot at the judge but missed. After exiting the courtroom, he exchanged shots with another deputy in the hallway. Corrections Officer Mark Parker, who was unarmed, was caught in the crossfire while attempting to shield citizens in the hallway. He was left paralyzed from the chest down and required round-the-clock care for the remainder of his life until succumbing to his wounds on March 19th, 2009. The suspect was convicted of murder and executed in June of 2000. Officer Parker attended the execution. Deputy Wilkerson was a U.S. Navy WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam War veteran and served with the Orange County Sheriff's Office for nine years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-FL-6F640FA0
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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Deputy Sheriff Wilkerson gave the Orange County Sheriff's Office 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Orlando community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Orange County Sheriff's Office

Location Orlando, FL

Platform Identity ocso.orange.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 10, 1984

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

Age 60

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Executed in 2000

Military Service

Arnold William Wilkerson served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Deputy Sheriff Arnold William Wilkerson 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 Orange County Sheriff's Office, 11 of 21 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 52.4% of this agency's fallen.

Orange County Sheriff's Office

of 21 officers

52.4% Felonious

FL — Statewide

539

of 1,008 officers

53.5% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious