William Larkin Stiles
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

William Larkin Stiles

Felonious
End of Watch November 8, 1908
Age 37
The Vigil Panel 23 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff William Stiles was shot and killed while serving civil papers to the owner of a ranch 90 miles northwest of Winnemucca, Nevada. The man opened fire on Deputy Stiles, striking him three times, as he walked from the ranch house to the barn. A suspect was charged with Deputy Stiles' murder but acquitted at trial. Deputy Stiles had been a former member of the Arizona Rangers and had been deputized by the Sheriff to serve the court papers. Deputy Stiles is reportedly buried in an unmarked/unknown grave in Old Pioneer Cemetery, Winnemucca, Humboldt County, Nevada.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NV-C508FBE6
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Stiles served with the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Winnemucca community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Stiles.

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

Agency

Location Winnemucca, NV
Platform Identity hcso.humboldt.nv.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 8, 1908
Age 37
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Acquitted

Deputy Sheriff William Larkin Stiles 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 NV, 81 of 145 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55.9% of this state's fallen. That is 1.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Humboldt County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Humboldt County Sheriff's Office
3
of 3 officers
100% Felonious
NV — Statewide
81
of 145 officers
55.9% 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. William Larkin Stiles'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 William Larkin Stiles Compares

Age at End of Watch
37
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Acquitted

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Larkin Stiles is highlighted in Nov.

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. William Larkin Stiles was killed by gun; unknown type.

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

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from Humboldt County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.