Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Watkins was shot and killed as he responded to a domestic disturbance. A man had gone to a woman's home and threatened to kill everyone there when she refused to come outside. As the officer approached the man opened fire with his 12-gauge shotgun, fatally wounding Officer Watkins. The suspect was apprehended later that evening. The suspect was convicted of first degree murder and executed in the gas chamber June 14, 1940. Officer Watkins had been with the agency for three years.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-7F1855F3- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrol Officer Watkins gave the Forest City Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Forest City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrol Officer Watkins.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrol Officer Roy Eugene Watkins is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 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 58 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Forest City Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Roy Eugene Watkins's cause is highlighted.
How Roy Eugene Watkins Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Roy Eugene Watkins is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Roy Eugene Watkins was killed by shotgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Forest City Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
