Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Watson was shot and killed with his own weapon after arresting a man for selling muslim papers without a license. As he drove the man to the police station he was attacked and the suspect was able to gain control of his service weapon and shot him four times. The suspect and another man had been told to leave town the week before when they were caught selling the same paper. His killer was apprehended in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, by FBI Agents on May 18, 1971. He was returned to Cordele a year later, convicted of murder and sentenced to life. On April 13, 1981, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ordered a new trial, stating the jurors were improperly selected. On September 17, 1981, he was acquitted by the new jury. His trial was one of the most controversial trials in our nations history. Sergeant Watson was a World War II veteran.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-GA-AAB61272- 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.
Sergeant Watson gave the Cordele Police Department 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cordele community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Carl Hiram Watson served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Sergeant Carl Hiram Watson 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 Cordele Police Dept., 3 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Carl Hiram Watson's cause is highlighted.
How Carl Hiram Watson Compares
Offender Outcome
Acquitted
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Carl Hiram Watson is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Carl Hiram Watson was killed by officer's handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Cordele Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
