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Police Officer

William Jackson

Columbus Police Department — Columbus, GA
Felonious
United States flag Georgia flag
End of Watch October 14, 1896
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
The Vigil Panel 14 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 25

Incident

Officer Jackson and Officer Richard Adams were shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man on a disorderly conduct warrant at a saloon at the corner of 13th Street and 1st Avenue. During the arrest the suspect and his son both opened fire, fatally wounding both officers. The two men fled to their home on 16th Street, being chased by an angry mob. The mob surrounded the house but were held off by arriving officers. As the officers attempted to enter the house the two suspects opened fire on them, killing Officer Charlie Roberts and wounding a former police officer who was assisting. The mob of citizens then stormed the house and shot the father, dragged him into the front yard, set his body on fire, and continued to shoot him. The son was able to flee the home and went to Alabama where he was arrested. He was returned to Georgia and hanged for his part in the murders.

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August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

130 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Police Officer Jackson gave the Columbus Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Columbus community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Columbus Police Department
Type Other
Location Columbus, Muscogee County, GA
Platform Identity cpd.muscogee.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 14, 1896
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

William is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1896, 59 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 129th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

October holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Columbus Police Department has 26 officers remembered here, William among them.

Across the years

Police Officer William Jackson

Columbus Police Department · End of Watch October 14, 1896

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 53-W

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