Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Sheppard died of complications from gunshot wounds he suffered two years earlier in a gun battle with a youthful bandit. Sergeant Sheppard shot and killed the suspect.
Survivors
Sergeant Sheppard served with the agency for 31 years and was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-58181703- 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
31 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant Sheppard gave the Chatham County Police Department 31 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Savannah community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Sheppard.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant William M. Sheppard 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 GA, 548 of 903 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 6.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Chatham County Police Department, 5 of 11 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 45.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William M. Sheppard's cause is highlighted.
How William M. Sheppard Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William M. Sheppard is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William M. Sheppard was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
10 officers from Chatham County Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
