Woodrow Wilson Whetstone
Agency patch
Chief of Police

Woodrow Wilson Whetstone

Junction City Police Department — Junction City, OR
Felonious
End of Watch December 26, 1960
Age 43
Tour of Duty 10 yrs
Badge 825
The Vigil Panel 96 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Chief Woodrow Whetstone was shot and killed when two parties in a domestic disturbance arrived at his house looking for assistance. The woman's former boyfriend had confronted a woman and her boyfriend, and they went to Chief Whetstone's home while he was there on his lunch break. While at the scene, the man arrived and shot and killed both Chief Whetstone and the boyfriend, 54, as the Chief tried to calm the man. He then shot and wounded the woman, 42. On February 15, 1961, the 45-year-old suspect was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life. He received an additional 10 years for shooting the woman. Chief Whetstone had served with the Junction City Police Department for 10 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two children, and two grandchildren.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-OR-A9364458
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 Woodrow. 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

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Chief of Police Whetstone gave the Junction City Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Junction City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Whetstone.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Junction City, Lane County, OR
Platform Identity jpd.lane.or.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 26, 1960
Tour of Duty 10 yrs
Age 43
Badge Number 825
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Shotgun

Chief of Police Woodrow Wilson Whetstone 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 OR, 115 of 197 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58.4% of this state's fallen. That is 58.4 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

Junction City Police Department
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
OR — Statewide
115
of 197 officers
58.4% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Woodrow Wilson Whetstone's cause is highlighted.

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

How Woodrow Wilson Whetstone Compares

Age at Death
43
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
10
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Woodrow Wilson Whetstone is highlighted in Dec.

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. Woodrow Wilson Whetstone was killed by shotgun.

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

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from Junction City Police Department are honored on badge.nw.