Roll of Honor
Incident
Marshal Willis Dearing was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a drunk man in a city street. The suspect had been asking for credit in a local bar and fired a shot into the street when the owner refused. The man then shot Marshal Dearing as he attempted to arrest him. The man was identified but never apprehended. Marshal Dearing was predeceased by his wife and five children. Four of his children were from his first wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-217DEDBF- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Willis. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
129 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
City Marshal Dearing served with the DeSoto Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the DeSoto community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
City Marshal Willis Dearing 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 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Willis Dearing's cause is highlighted.
How Willis Dearing Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Willis Dearing is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Willis Dearing was killed by gun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from DeSoto Police Department are honored on badge.nw.