Incident
Deputy Sheriff Arthur Yeary was shot and killed after investigating a domestic disturbance call on a farm near Athens involving a man and his wife. He arrested the man and had him in his car when the subject suddenly grabbed his service revolver and shot him. The 51-year-old man was apprehended by a posse the next day. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. He applied for a parole on October 9, 1969, and was released at some point before November 13, 1980, a date he died at his home in Pineville. Deputy Yeary was a WWI veteran and a member of the Masons. He had served with the Claiborne Parish Sheriff's Office for 20 years and also served as the town marshal of Athens. He was an expert at handling bloodhounds and often took them in searches for other law enforcement agencies, even in other nearby states, especially Texas and Arkansas.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, three sisters, and three brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-LA-4B0B682C- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Yeary gave the Claiborne Parish Sheriff's Office 20 years.
Thank you for your service to the Homer 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
Arthur Yeary served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Deputy Sheriff Arthur Yeary 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 LA, 364 of 595 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.2% of this state's fallen. That is 7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Arthur Yeary's cause is highlighted.
How Arthur Yeary Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Arthur Yeary is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Arthur Yeary was killed by officer's handgun.