Roll of Honor

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Deputy Sheriff

William M. "Billy" Lester

Wyoming County Sheriff's Department — Pineville, WV

Felonious

End of Watch April 25, 1926

Age 34

The Vigil Panel 51 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Deputy Lester was shot and killed while raiding a liquor still at Barkers Ridge. State police apprehended the suspect.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-WV-AB44033D
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 Lester served with the Wyoming County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Pineville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Lester.

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

Agency

Department Wyoming County Sheriff's Department

Location Pineville, WV

Platform Identity wcso.wyoming.wv.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 25, 1926

Age 34

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Apprehended

Deputy Sheriff William M. "Billy" Lester 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 WV, 169 of 232 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.8% of this state's fallen. That is 18.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Wyoming County Sheriff's 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.

Wyoming County Sheriff's Department

of 2 officers

100% Felonious

WV — Statewide

169

of 232 officers

72.8% 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. William M. "Billy" Lester'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 William M. "Billy" Lester Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Apprehended

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William M. "Billy" Lester is highlighted in Apr.

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. William M. "Billy" Lester was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Wyoming County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.