William Sherrod Toney
Incident
Special Deputy Toney and Special Deputy William Caple were shot and killed while raiding a gambling house. Both deputies died at the scene of the shooting. Several suspects were arrested. One, age 20, was convicted of murdering Deputy Toney and sentenced to death on June 29, 1922. In 1925 Governor Pat M. Neff commuted his sentence to life. In 1940 he failed to return to prison after a six month reprieve. On December 2, 1952, he was arrested in Dallas and returned to the Huntsville Penitentiary to finish his life sentence. He had been living quietly in Dallas, unchecked by police for 12 years. Members of the parole board told him if he could show that he behaved himself during his 12 years of freedom he would receive a pardon by Christmas. He did so and was set free on December 18, 1952.
Special Deputy Toney was survived by his wife.
Survivors
Special Deputy Toney was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-A3EC33F7- 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.
Special Deputy Toney served with the Wichita County Constable's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Wichita Falls community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Deputy Toney.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Deputy William Sherrod Toney 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 TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Wichita County Constable's Office, 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. William Sherrod Toney's cause is highlighted.
How William Sherrod Toney Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Sherrod Toney is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Sherrod Toney was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Wichita County Constable's Office are honored on badge.nw.