William Locke McKenzie

Rowan County Sheriff's Office — Salisbury, NC

Felonious

End of Watch July 16, 1931

Age 42

The Vigil Panel 62 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 7

Incident

Sheriff William McKenzie was shot and killed after receiving reports from a woman that her husband was going to shoot up the town. When Sheriff McKenzie arrived at the residence the man opened fire with a shotgun, striking him at point-blank range. The suspect had recently been released from a mental hospital where he was being treated for shell shock and other effects of wounds he suffered in World War I. He was recommitted but declared sane five years later. On May 7, 1936, he was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 15 to 20 years in prison.

Survivors

Sheriff McKenzie was survived by his wife and four children and is buried at Chesnut Hill Cemetery in Salisbury, North Carolina.

In Our Keeping

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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.
Sheriff McKenzie served with the Rowan County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Salisbury community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff McKenzie.

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

Agency

Department Rowan County Sheriff's Office

Location Salisbury, NC

Platform Identity rcso.rowan.nc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 16, 1931

Age 42

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun

Offender Sentenced to 15 to 20 years

Sheriff William Locke McKenzie 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 NC, 385 of 664 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58% of this state's fallen. That is 3.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Rowan County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 8 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 37.5% of this agency's fallen.

Rowan County Sheriff's Office

of 8 officers

37.5% Felonious

NC — Statewide

385

of 664 officers

58% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious