William E. Armistead

Atlanta Police Department — Atlanta, GA

Felonious

End of Watch November 13, 1916

Age 30

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

The Vigil Panel 32 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 87

Incident

Patrolman Armistead was shot and killed as he and his partner were attempting to arrest a suspect acting suspiciously in the downtown area of Atlanta where all local businesses were closed. While attempting place handcuffs on the suspect he produced a handgun and shot both officers, killing Patrolman Armistead.

The suspect was apprehended in Belmont, North Carolina, on September 28, 1918.

Patrolman Armistead had been with the agency for three years and was survived by his wife and child.

Survivors

Patrolman Armistead had been with the agency for three years and was survived by his wife and child.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-GA-710F93E2
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.
Patrolman Armistead gave the Atlanta Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Atlanta community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Armistead.

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

Agency

Department Atlanta Police Department

Location Atlanta, GA

Platform Identity apd.fulton.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 13, 1916

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Age 30

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Offender Apprehended

Patrolman William E. Armistead 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 Atlanta Police Department, 58 of 88 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 65.9% of this agency's fallen.

Atlanta Police Department

of 88 officers

65.9% Felonious

GA — Statewide

548

of 903 officers

60.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious