Roll of Honor

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Police Officer

W. A. R. Wilson

Chester Police Department — Chester, SC

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch May 9, 1891

Age 43

Tour of Duty 6 mo

The Vigil Panel 10 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Police Officer W.A.R. Wilson was shot and killed by a subject who was seeking revenge over an arrest he had made the previous day.

He had arrested a woman for trespassing at the local railroad station. A local saloon keeper took offense to the arrest and confronted Officer Wilson on the city's main business street. As they spoke the man suddenly pulled out a gun and shot Officer Wilson in the chest. The two struggled for several minutes before several bystanders interfered.

The subject was able to flee the area.

Officer Wilson was a Confederate Army veteran and had served with the Chester Police Department for only six months.t

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-SC-D5A2BBB0
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.
Police Officer Wilson served with the Chester Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Chester community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Chester Police Department

Location Chester, SC

Platform Identity cpd.chester.sc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 9, 1891

Tour of Duty 6 mo

Age 43

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Military Service

W. A. R. Wilson served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Police Officer W. A. R. Wilson 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 SC, 271 of 438 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.9% of this state's fallen. That is 7.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Chester 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.

Chester Police Department

of 2 officers

100% Felonious

SC — Statewide

271

of 438 officers

61.9% 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. W. A. R. Wilson'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 W. A. R. Wilson Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

0.5

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. W. A. R. Wilson is highlighted in May.

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. W. A. R. Wilson was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Chester Police Department are honored on badge.nw.