Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief of Police Forrest was assassinated outside of the Central Hotel in Cordele.
The gunman immediately surrendered to the sheriff. The suspect was the son of the previous police chief, who held the office for many years, having only recently been defeated by Chief Forrest for the office. On May 27, 1909, the suspect, 18, was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to 10 years in prison. He was paroled on August 3, 1915.
Chief Forrest had served as the Cordele Police Department's chief of police for almost three months.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-D677B0B5- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Chief of Police Forrest served with the Cordele Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Cordele community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Forrest.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police W. H. Forrest is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,586 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 6.8 percentage points above the national rate of 53.9%.
At Cordele Police Department, 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. W. H. Forrest's cause is highlighted.
How W. H. Forrest Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. W. H. Forrest is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. W. H. Forrest was killed by handgun; .32 caliber.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Cordele Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
