Deputy Sheriff William J. Propst, Rowan County Sheriff's Office, North Carolina

Deputy Sheriff William J. Propst

Rowan County Sheriff's Office, North Carolina

End of Watch Friday, November 17, 1922

William J. Propst

Deputy Propst was shot and killed while he and two Kannapolis patrolmen attempted to arrest a man who had shot and wounded the police chief earlier in the evening.

The earlier shooting had occurred when the police chief observed the suspect enter a saloon with another man and draw his gun. The suspect shot the chief in the arm and hip when he went inside to arrest him.

Deputy Propst and the two patrolmen located the suspect in West Kannapolis and attempted to arrest him. The man opened fire on the officers, striking all three men. Deputy Propst was fatally wounded in the exchange.

The suspect was eventually apprehended. He was convicted of murdering Deputy Propst but sentenced to only 3 years at hard labor in the state penitentiary.

Bio

Age 65
Tour Not available
Badge Not available

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Handgun
Offender Sentenced to 3 years

Most Recent Reflection

View all 6 Reflections

Your heroism and service is honored today, the 87th anniversary of your death. Your memory lives and you continue to inspire. Thank you for your service to my home state and the birthplace of my son. My cherished son Larry Lasater was a fellow police officer murdered in the line of duty on April 24, 2005 while serving as a Pittsburg, CA police officer.

I was outraged to read that your murderer only received three years for killing you and wounding two others. This was an absolute travesty of justice.
Rest In Peace

Phyllis Loya
mother of fallen officer Larry Lasater

November 17, 2009