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Incident
Deputy Sheriff Moses Formwalt was stabbed to death by a prisoner he was escorting from the council chambers at the courthouse.
Deputy Formwalt had previously served as the first mayor of Atlanta, from 1848 to 1849, after the city was renamed from Marthasville. A city street was named in his honor.
Deputy Formwalt had served with the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office for one year and is buried in Atlanta's Oakland Cemetery.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
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- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
174 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Formwalt gave the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Decatur community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
DeKalb County Sheriff's Office has lost 2 officers; 2 of them killed feloniously.
Moses is one of 549 officers killed feloniously in GA, 60.7% of the 905 remembered there.
Moses is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Moses 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 1852, 1 officer in GA was killed feloniously, the 126th heaviest of 149 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 16.
In 1852, 10 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 171st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1852, 10 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 179th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Moses was 32. Of the 481 killed feloniously in GA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 48; the middle age was 38. Moses had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Moses was 32. 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. Moses had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Moses was 32. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Moses had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
May holds 8.6% of these deaths in GA; December holds the most, 10.6%. Saturdays: 20.6%.
May holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.
May holds 8.5% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Saturdays: 16.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 100% of all 2 deaths at DeKalb County Sheriff's Office.
Felonious deaths account for 60.7% of all 905 deaths in GA, the most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause.
His people
DeKalb County Sheriff's Office has 2 officers remembered here, Moses among them.
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 39-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from DeKalb County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
