Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief Markham was shot and killed as he and another officer attempted to take shotgun from a man who was walking the streets threatening people. As the two officers talked with the man he opened fire fatally wounding Chief Markham and blowing away half of the other officer's face. Both managed to return fire leaving the suspect seriously wounded. A citizen, who ran out of a nearby hardware store, was hit with a bullet from Chief Marhham's revolver and killed. On May 27, 1940, the suspect, 37, was found not guilty by reason of insanity and committed at Ukiah State Mental Hospital. Chief Markham had served as a constable and chief of police for Willow for 18 years.
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BO-US-CA-6964B189- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Chief of Police Markham gave the Willows Police Department 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Willows community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Markham.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police Dave Markham is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 53 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Dave Markham's cause is highlighted.
How Dave Markham Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Dave Markham is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Dave Markham was killed by shotgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Willows Police Department are honored on badge.nw.