Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Earl Heisler was shot and killed while checking on a suspicious vehicle behind the Ramada Inn West, on Route 60. He was checking the area due to recent burglaries at the nearby Stratford Hall Apartments. As he checked the hotel parking lot he observed three people sitting in the vehicle. As he spoke to the occupants, he observed a bag of marijuana on the backseat of the car. During the subsequent search, the vehicle's driver grabbed Sergeant Heisler's service weapon and shot him in the face. The man fled the state but was later apprehended and returned to Virginia. He was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison. He was paroled in March 2018.
Survivors
Sergeant Heisler was survived by his wife, two sons, and a daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-CD05D976- 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.
Sergeant Heisler gave the James City County Sheriff's Office 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Williamsburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Heisler.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Earl Marlin Heisler 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. Earl Marlin Heisler's cause is highlighted.
How Earl Marlin Heisler Compares
Offender Outcome
Paroled in 2018
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Earl Marlin Heisler is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Earl Marlin Heisler was killed by officer's handgun.