Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Walter Davis was shot and killed while he and another officer attempted to arrest two robbery suspects. As Sheriff Davis searched one of the men the other man opened fire, fatally wounding him. Several posse members were also shot and wounded during a search for the man. The 22 year-old suspect and an accomplice were eventually apprehended and convicted of Sheriff Davis' murder, and sentenced to life in prison on October 12, 1916. In 1925 Governor Clyde M. Reed reduced the murderer's sentence to 15 years making him eligible for parole. Sheriff Davis was predeceased by his wife and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Emporia, Lyons County, Kansas.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KS-901AC9E7- 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.
Sheriff Davis served with the Lyon County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Emporia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Davis.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Walter A. Davis 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 KS, 237 of 335 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70.7% of this state's fallen. That is 70.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Lyon County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Walter A. Davis's cause is highlighted.
How Walter A. Davis Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Walter A. Davis is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Walter A. Davis was killed by gun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Lyon County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
