Sergeant Wilkinson suffered a fatal heart attack when he was assaulted after responding to a call at a local bar. Sergeant Wilkinson and officers from a neighboring agency responded to the fight call and were attempting to talk with the suspects when one of them shoved him. After being assaulted, Sergeant Wilkinson began talking with one of the other suspects before collapsing. The suspect was arrested at the scene by other officers.

Sergeant Wilkinson who was hired under a COPS program three years prior, was recently promoted to sergeant and was coordinator for the COPS program. He was survived by his wife.