Wilber W. Hendrickson, Sr.

Dade County Sheriff's Department — Miami, FL

Felonious

End of Watch June 2, 1915

Age 44

The Vigil Panel 30 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 6

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Wilber Hendrickson and Officer John Riblet, of the Miami Police Department, were shot and killed while attempting to prevent a jail escape. The brother of one of the prisoners went to the Dade County Jail, knocked on the door, and shot Deputy Hendrickson when he answered it. Officer Riblet, who was walking his beat nearby, heard the shot and immediately responded to the scene. He and the suspect exchanged shots and were both killed. The prisoner, who was the suspect's brother, was not able to escape. However, the prisoner did escape three years later and continued a life of crime with a gang of his brothers and other criminals known as the Ashley Gang. On January 9, 1924, the escaped member of the gang shot and killed Deputy Frederick Baker, of the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Department, as a posse attempted to arrest them in the Everglades. One of the other gang members was also killed. The rest of the gang members were shot and killed by a posse in November 1924.

Survivors

Deputy Hendrickson was survived by his wife and son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-FL-F7870EFF
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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 Hendrickson served with the Dade County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Miami community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Hendrickson.

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

Agency

Department Dade County Sheriff's Department

Location Miami, FL

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

Service Record

End of Watch June 2, 1915

Age 44

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle; .38 caliber

Offender Shot and killed

Deputy Sheriff Wilber W. Hendrickson, Sr. 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 Dade County Sheriff's Department, 6 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 85.7% of this agency's fallen.

Dade County Sheriff's Department

of 7 officers

85.7% Felonious

FL — Statewide

539

of 1,008 officers

53.5% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious