Incident
Patrolman W.G. Willard succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained four days earlier during a shootout with a suspect on Foster Street. The suspect was shot and killed by Patrolman Willard during the shootout.
Survivors
Patrolman Willard was survived by his wife, daughter, and two sons.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Willard gave the Winston-Salem Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Winston-Salem community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Willard.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Winston-Salem Police Department has lost 19 officers; 10 of them killed feloniously.
W. is one of 385 officers killed feloniously in NC, 58% of the 664 remembered there.
W. is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
W. is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1938, 1 officer at Winston-Salem Police Department was killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1938, 8 officers in NC were killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 127 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 12.
In 1938, 111 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 45th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1938, 113 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 51st heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
W. was 37. Of the 10 killed feloniously at Winston-Salem Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 33 and 41; the middle age was 38.5. W. had served 11 years; the middle length of service was 13 years.
W. was 37. Of the 370 killed feloniously in NC whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 48; the middle age was 39. W. had served 11 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
W. was 37. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. W. had served 11 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
W. was 37. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. W. had served 11 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
November holds 10% of these deaths at Winston-Salem Police Department; February holds the most, 20%. Tuesdays: 20%.
November holds 6.8% of these deaths in NC; May holds the most, 11.4%. Tuesdays: 14.3%.
November holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.
November holds 8.2% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Tuesdays: 13.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 52.6% of all 19 deaths at Winston-Salem Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 30% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 58% of all 664 deaths in NC, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 22.9% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.9% of these deaths.
His people
Winston-Salem Police Department has 19 officers remembered here, W. among them.
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Michael Mordecai Vickers
May 19, 1895
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T. G. Anderson
Aug 15, 1927
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Leland Glenn Teague
Dec 26, 1927
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W. G. Willard
Nov 1, 1938
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John Marsden Sampson
Dec 8, 1940
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Gurney Royall
Aug 1, 1941
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Grover Cleveland Hailey
Nov 28, 1945
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John Franklin Wimbish
Nov 1, 1952
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Al Charles Kinard
Sep 9, 1961
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Donald W. Allred
Jan 3, 1983
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Aaron Gerome Tise
Jun 26, 1992
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Michael Ray Jennings
Jan 29, 1993
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Bobby Farrell Beane
Apr 23, 1993
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Robert Buitrago
Jan 15, 1994
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Stephen Levi Amos, II
Feb 28, 1995
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Howard J. Plouff
Feb 23, 2007
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Mickey Gray Hutchens
Oct 12, 2009
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Russell Mark Willingham, Jr.
Jul 30, 2011
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Michael Shannon McDonald
Oct 22, 2021
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 1-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
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