Roll of Honor
Incident
Policeman Mel Wilson was shot and killed when he attempted to arrest two men who had fired a gun and were drinking in Esserville at approximately 8:00 pm.
As he attempted to take the two men into custody one of them opened fire, killing him. One of the men was apprehended at the scene but the other one was able to escape.
Policeman Wilson was a U.S. Army veteran of the Philippine–American War.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and six children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-9364F14B- 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.
Policeman Wilson served with the Wise County Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Wise 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Melvin E. "Mel" Wilson served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Policeman Melvin E. "Mel" 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 VA, 395 of 654 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Melvin E. "Mel" Wilson's cause is highlighted.
How Melvin E. "Mel" Wilson Compares
Offender Outcome
Apprehended
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Melvin E. "Mel" Wilson is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Melvin E. "Mel" Wilson was killed by gun; unknown type.