Roll of Honor
Incident
Master Deputy William Marsh died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty.
Master Deputy Marsh had served with the Rowan County Sheriff's Office for nine years and had previously served with the Cleveland Police Department for 11 years.
COVID-19 and Law Enforcement
Master Deputy William Edward Marsh died on October 10, 2021 of COVID-19 contracted in the line of duty. He was 40.
He is one of 884 officers honored here.
Beginning in early 2020, law enforcement officers across the country contracted COVID-19 in the course of their duties. While much of the nation sheltered at home, they kept answering calls, making arrests, transporting prisoners, and working face to face with the public. There was no distance to be had from the job.
Corrections officers were hit hardest. Confined facilities and large populations meant constant, close, unavoidable exposure.
Survivors
Master Deputy Marsh is survived by his wife and child.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-12BF5264- 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
The country locked its doors. You kept working.
Master Deputy Marsh gave the Rowan County Sheriff's Office 20 years.
Thank you for your service to the Salisbury community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Master Deputy Marsh.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Master Deputy William Edward Marsh is one of 2,974 officers lost to illness connected to their service across the full record of this memorial — 9.1% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NC, 37 of 664 officers were lost to illness connected to their service — 5.6% of this state's fallen. That is 3.5 percentage points below the national rate of 9.1%.
At Rowan County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 8 officers on record were lost to illness connected to their service — 12.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Illness compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Edward Marsh's cause is highlighted.
How William Edward Marsh Compares
When Illness Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Illness deaths across the full memorial record. William Edward Marsh is highlighted in Oct.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
7 officers from Rowan County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
