Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Jailer William Bishop was shot and killed while escorting two prisoners to a local dentist office. While the inmates were being examined by the dentist, one of them pulled out a small handgun he had concealed and forced the dentist to call the deputy into the room. Deputy Bishop was shot once in the back and as he was laying on the floor. Then he was then shot again in the head and killed. The killer was caught a short time later after a brief chase. He was convicted of the deputy's murder and sentenced to death in November 1998.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-BEABDA92- 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 Bishop gave the Fayette County Sheriff's Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Somerville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Bishop.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff William Thomas Bishop 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 TN, 498 of 769 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.8% of this state's fallen. That is 10.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Fayette County Sheriff's Department, 5 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 83.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Thomas Bishop's cause is highlighted.
How William Thomas Bishop Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to death
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Thomas Bishop is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Thomas Bishop was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Fayette County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
