Carlton Mason Stearns

Grays Harbor County Sheriff's Office — Montesano, WA

Felonious

End of Watch March 10, 1936

Age 41

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

The Vigil Panel 71 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 5

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Carlton Stearns was shot and killed with his own service weapon while on patrol near Copalis. His service weapon was found 65 feet from his body. No suspects were ever identified. Deputy Stearns had served with the Grays Harbor County Sheriff's Office for five years. He was survived by his wife, two children, and his father. He is buried at Fern Hill Cemetery in Aberdeen, Washington.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two children, and his father.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-WA-DADF1706
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Stearns gave the Grays Harbor County Sheriff's Office 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Montesano community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Stearns.

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

Agency

Department Grays Harbor County Sheriff's Office

Location Montesano, WA

Platform Identity ghcso.graysharbor.wa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 10, 1936

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

Age 41

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Never identified

Deputy Sheriff Carlton Mason Stearns is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In WA, 187 of 339 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55.2% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Grays Harbor County Sheriff's Office, 5 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 83.3% of this agency's fallen.

Grays Harbor County Sheriff's Office

of 6 officers

83.3% Felonious

WA — Statewide

187

of 339 officers

55.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious