Incident
Officer Garr was shot and killed by a man whom he had arrested. The man, who was sentenced to prison, held Officer Garr responsible for a prison sentence that he felt was unjustified. When released, the man opened a saloon and accused Officer Garr of harrassing him and his customers. The man located Officer Garr and the two exchanged words before the man produced a gun and shot Officer Garr four times. The suspect was convicted of Officer Garr's murder and sentenced to life in prison. He was pardoned on November 4, 1917. On June 4, 1918, he was arrested for stealing a car in Joplin, Missouri, and sent to prison. In September of 1924 he was arrested again after he and four other men engaged in a gun battle with several officers in Coffeyville, Kansas, after they were caught stealing a car. One officer was shot and wounded. Citizens old enough to remember said the shootout was a lot like one on October 5, 1892, when citizens shot it out with the Dalton Gang as they attempted to rob two banks at the same time.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KS-846146D6- 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.
Police Officer Garr served with the Caney Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Caney community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Garr.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Will Garr 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 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 16.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Caney Police Department, 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. Will Garr's cause is highlighted.
How Will Garr Compares
Offender Outcome
Pardoned in 1917
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Will Garr is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Will Garr was killed by handgun; .44 caliber.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Caney Police Department are honored on badge.nw.