Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Sheldon Whiteman was killed in a crash while involved in a vehicle pursuit at approximately 3:00 am.
Officers with the Ludowici Police Department had initiated the pursuit when they attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation. The vehicle fled onto Highway 57 toward McIntosh County with officers in pursuit. Deputy Whiteman had just joined the pursuit when his vehicle left the roadway and struck several trees near Tibet Road SE. He was transported to Liberty Regional Medical Center in Hinesville where he succumbed to his injuries.
The vehicle that was being pursued was later found abandoned in McIntosh County. The driver was later arrested and charged with homicide by vehicle, eluding, and reckless driving.
Deputy Whiteman had served with the Long County Sheriff's Office for four months and had previously served with the Chatham County Sheriff's Office for four years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, three children, and father.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-2A4CE61F- 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 Whiteman gave the Long County Sheriff's Office 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Ludowici community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Whiteman.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Sheldon Gordon Whiteman is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In GA, 263 of 903 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 29.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.9 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Sheldon Gordon Whiteman's cause is highlighted.
How Sheldon Gordon Whiteman Compares
Offender Outcome
Charged with homicide
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Sheldon Gordon Whiteman is highlighted in Jan.