Incident
Patrolman Ellzey was shot and killed while attempting to arrest the brother of a man he had just arrested. As Patrolman Ellzey waited for transportation the brother began to interfere. When Patrolman Ellzey attempted to arrest the brother for interfering he was overpowered and shot with his own service weapon. Patrolman Ellzey had served with the agency for 1 year.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children.
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
You barely got started.
Patrolman Ellzey gave the Savannah Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Savannah community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Ellzey.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Savannah Police Department has lost 31 officers; 21 of them killed feloniously.
William is one of 549 officers killed feloniously in GA, 60.7% of the 905 remembered there.
William is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
William 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 1926, 1 officer at Savannah Police Department was killed feloniously, the 3rd heaviest of 19 years on record. The heaviest was 1866, with 2.
In 1926, 3 officers in GA were killed feloniously, the 66th heaviest of 149 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 16.
In 1926, 209 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 9th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1926, 209 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 12th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
William was 49. Of the 19 killed feloniously at Savannah Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 27 and 42; the middle age was 30. William had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 5 years.
William was 49. Of the 481 killed feloniously in GA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 48; the middle age was 38. William had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 6 years.
William was 49. 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. William had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 6 years.
William was 49. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. William had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
September holds 14.3% of these deaths at Savannah Police Department; August holds the most, 14.3%. Sundays: 19%.
September holds 7.8% of these deaths in GA; December holds the most, 10.6%. Sundays: 16.4%.
September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.
September holds 8.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Sundays: 15.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 67.7% of all 31 deaths at Savannah Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 14.3% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 60.7% of all 905 deaths in GA, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 6.7% 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 officer's handgun, in 5.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 5.2% of these deaths.
His people
Savannah Police Department has 31 officers remembered here, William among them.
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James Foley Apr 7, 1866
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Edward G. McNichols Apr 7, 1866
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Samuel Bryson Nov 4, 1868
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Robert A. Reid Nov 5, 1868
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John D. Sullivan Dec 25, 1869
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Habersham H. Harvey Oct 20, 1881
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Jensen Christian Neve
Feb 10, 1894
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Harry B. Fender Feb 16, 1901
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Frank V. Hansen Jun 17, 1910
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James McGinley Feb 20, 1916
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Walter H. Marlow
Mar 27, 1921
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Philip E. Steeves Mar 22, 1922
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William F. Hodges Aug 10, 1924
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William C. Ellzey Sep 26, 1926
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O. Raymond Hughes Aug 18, 1928
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Samuel Marion Webb, Sr.
Apr 14, 1929
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Herbert V. Fitzgerald Aug 1, 1929
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James E. Roughen
Jan 22, 1934
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Earl W. Eubanks
Dec 23, 1941
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James Walter Todd
Dec 12, 1950
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H. Dan Rolison
Sep 25, 1960
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Jimmy Lee Bland
Sep 26, 1966
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Frank W. Mobley Jul 20, 1968
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Robert D. Watford Sep 18, 1969
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James Franklin Marchbanks
Jun 30, 1976
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John Joseph Brown
Apr 14, 1981
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Mark Allen MacPhail, Sr.
Aug 19, 1989
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Willie Samuel Smith
Mar 11, 1994
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Joseph Lupus
May 22, 2018
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Anthony Lawrence Christie
May 25, 2018
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Kelvin Bernard Ansari
May 11, 2019
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 55-W
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