William J. Myers
Deputy Sheriff

William J. Myers

Felonious Veteran
End of Watch September 22, 2015
Age 64
Tour of Duty 48 yrs
The Vigil Panel 165 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Bill Myers was shot and killed while serving a domestic violence injunction at a local attorney's office on Plew Avenue, in Shalimar, at approximately 8:20 a.m.

He had served the papers on the subject and was leaving the office when the man opened fire from behind, striking him multiple times in the back and the back of the head.

The man fled to a local hotel, where he barricaded himself in a room for approximately 90 minutes. He was shot and killed by members of the agency's Special Response Team after exiting the room displaying a firearm.

Deputy Myers was a U.S. Air Force veteran and had served with the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office for a total of 26 years. He retired from the agency after serving 25 years and then returned as a part-time deputy in January 2015 to assist with serving civil papers.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, three sons, and seven grandchildren.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-BE4AF9B0
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 Myers gave the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office 48 years.
Thank you for your service to the Shalimar community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Location Shalimar, FL
Platform Identity okalso.okaloosa.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 22, 2015
Tour of Duty 48 yrs
Age 64
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun
Offender Shot and killed

Military Service

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

Deputy Sheriff William J. Myers 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 Okaloosa County Sheriff's Dept., 5 of 8 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.5% of this agency's fallen.

Okaloosa County Sheriff's Dept.
5
of 8 officers
62.5% 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. William J. Myers'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 William J. Myers Compares

Age at End of Watch
64
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
48
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William J. Myers is highlighted in Sep.

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. William J. Myers was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location