Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Godfrey Kimball was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man wanted for kidnapping and robbing the mayor of Statesville and stealing his car. The mayor had just left city hall when a 23-year-old man jumped on the running board of his new coupe, put a gun to his head, and ordered him to start driving. A few blocks away, the suspect released the mayor after robbing him and took his car. Later in the day, Sheriff Kimball and a deputy found the car parked outside a local residence and were told that the suspect was inside. Sheriff Kimball, who went to the back door, was met by the suspect, who put a gun in his face and ordered him to put his hands up. The deputy, who saw what was happening from the front door, ran inside and ordered the suspect to drop his gun. The suspect turned and shot the deputy in the leg. The deputy returned fire, missed the suspect, and accidentally killed Sheriff Kimball. Three days later, the suspect was captured at a boarding house in Concord after the proprietress recognized the suspect's picture in a newspaper and called the police. He was convicted of second-degree murder, kidnapping, and robbery. He was sentenced to 70 years in prison. On September 30, 1948, he escaped from a Jackson County prison camp. The next day, he was shot and killed by Jackson County Sheriff Charles G. Middleton after he ignored orders to halt. Sheriff Middleton was shot and killed in the line of duty on July 2, 1953. Sheriff Kimball was a United States Army World War I veteran and had served as Sheriff of the Iredell County Sheriff's Office for four years.
Survivors
He was survived by two sons, parents, and a sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-28D11B31- 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.
Sheriff Kimball gave the Iredell County Sheriff's Office 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Statesville 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
Godfrey Click Kimball served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Sheriff Godfrey Click Kimball is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NC, 205 of 664 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30.9% of this state's fallen.
At Iredell County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 3 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Godfrey Click Kimball's cause is highlighted.
How Godfrey Click Kimball Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Godfrey Click Kimball is highlighted in Aug.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Iredell County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
