William Goericke

St. Louis County Sheriff's Office — Clayton, MO

Felonious

End of Watch April 24, 1930

Age 33

The Vigil Panel 59 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 8

Incident

Deputy Sheriff William Goericke was shot and killed while on a decoy assignment on Fee Fee Road, near Craig Road. He and another deputy were assigned to act as decoys in an area plagued by nighttime robberies along a lonely stretch of highway. As they were driving down the highway, another car approached them. The occupants of the other car stopped and got out and flagged down the Deputies car. As the Deputies stopped, the suspects identified themselves as police officers and ordered the Deputies out of their car. As Deputy Goericke and his partner got out of their car, they drew their weapons. A gun battle ensued and Deputy Goericke was wounded. The gun battle continued and Deputy Goericke was able to shoot and kill his assailant. Deputy Goericke died at the scene soon after.

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Permanent identifier: BO-US-MO-DC023AB5
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.
Deputy Sheriff Goericke served with the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Clayton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Goericke.

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

Agency

Department St. Louis County Sheriff's Office

Location Clayton, MO

Platform Identity slcso.stlouis.mo.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 24, 1930

Age 33

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Shot and killed

Deputy Sheriff William Goericke 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 St. Louis County Sheriff's Office, 7 of 9 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 77.8% of this agency's fallen.

St. Louis County Sheriff's Office

of 9 officers

77.8% Felonious

MO — Statewide

516

of 813 officers

63.5% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious