Willard Laurence Ferguson
Agency patch
Patrolman

Willard Laurence Ferguson

Kansas City Police Department — Kansas City, MO
Veteran → Felonious
End of Watch February 19, 1923
Age 26
Tour of Duty 1 yrs
The Vigil Panel 44 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Ferguson was shot and wounded as he arrested a suspect who had robbed two filling stations. Patrolman Ferguson was able to return fire, killing the suspect. Patrolman Ferguson died 11 days later from his wounds. Patrolman Ferguson had been with the agency for one year and had served in the United States Army for three years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and child.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-98FFD652
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Ferguson gave the Kansas City Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Kansas City community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Kansas City, MO
Platform Identity kcpd.jackson.mo.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 19, 1923
Tour of Duty 1 yrs
Age 26
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Military Service

Willard Laurence Ferguson served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Patrolman Willard Laurence Ferguson 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 97,759 officers honored here.

In MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 63.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Kansas City Police Department, 72 of 120 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.

Kansas City Police Department
72
of 120 officers
60% Felonious
MO — Statewide
516
of 813 officers
63.5% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,759 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Willard Laurence Ferguson's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Willard Laurence Ferguson Compares

Age at Death
26
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
1
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Willard Laurence Ferguson is highlighted in Feb.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Willard Laurence Ferguson was killed by gun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Military Service

Willard Laurence Ferguson served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.

Visit Willard Laurence Ferguson’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.