Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Lee Cordell was shot and killed while and two deputies attempted to arrest a man who had stolen a horse from a farm in Arkansas.
During the arrest, the man drew a weapon and opened fire. Sheriff Cordell returned fire and both were killed in the shootout.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-DB22131B- 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
157 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Sheriff Cordell served with the Howell County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the West Plains community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Lee Hugh Cordell 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 MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 9.3 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Howell County Sheriff's Office, 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. Lee Hugh Cordell's cause is highlighted.
How Lee Hugh Cordell Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Lee Hugh Cordell is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Lee Hugh Cordell was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Howell County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
