Ernest Wilson Walters, Sr.
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Ernest Wilson Walters, Sr.

Forsyth County Sheriff's Office — Winston-Salem, NC
Felonious Veteran
End of Watch February 23, 1966
Age 41
The Vigil Panel 101 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Ernest Walters was shot and killed while serving an eviction notice on a woman on West 14th Street in Winston-Salem. As he and two workers removed furniture from the home the woman opened fire on him with a 12-gauge shotgun as he walked from the back yard to the front door. The 41-year-old suspect was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 30 years in prison. She was paroled December 31st, 1971. Deputy Walters was a WWII veteran and also served as a constable for Winston-Salem.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-39D6DB3A
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.
Deputy Sheriff Walters served with the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Winston-Salem 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

Location Winston-Salem, NC
Platform Identity fcso.forsyth.nc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 23, 1966
Age 41
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Shotgun; 12 gauge
Offender Paroled in 1971

Military Service

Ernest Wilson Walters, Sr. served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Deputy Sheriff Ernest Wilson Walters, Sr. 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 Forsyth County Sheriff's Office, 4 of 9 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 44.4% of this agency's fallen.

Forsyth County Sheriff's Office
4
of 9 officers
44.4% Felonious
NC — Statewide
385
of 664 officers
58% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ernest Wilson Walters, Sr.'s cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Ernest Wilson Walters, Sr. Compares

Age at End of Watch
41
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Paroled in 1971

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ernest Wilson Walters, Sr. is highlighted in Feb.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ernest Wilson Walters, Sr. was killed by shotgun; 12 gauge.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location