Roll of Honor

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Officer

Dessie Kea

Vidalia Police Department — Vidalia, GA

Felonious

End of Watch March 17, 1966

Age 56

Tour of Duty 20 yrs

The Vigil Panel 101 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Officer Kea was shot and killed during an hour long gun battle as he and several officers attempted to arrest a mentally disturbed man who had barricaded himself in his home. The suspect, 53, was shot and killed. Officer Kea had served in law enforcement for over 20 years. He had previously served with the Toombs County Sheriff's Department.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, daughter, son, grandson, and three siblings.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-GA-999DB706
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

20 years. You could have gone home.
Officer Kea gave the Vidalia Police Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Vidalia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Kea.

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

Agency

Department Vidalia Police Department

Location Vidalia, GA

Platform Identity vpd.toombs.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 17, 1966

Tour of Duty 20 yrs

Age 56

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle; .22 caliber

Offender Shot and killed

Officer Dessie Kea 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 GA, 548 of 903 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 6.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Vidalia 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.

Vidalia Police Department

of 2 officers

100% Felonious

GA — Statewide

548

of 903 officers

60.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Dessie Kea's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Dessie Kea Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Dessie Kea is highlighted in Mar.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Dessie Kea was killed by rifle; .22 caliber.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Vidalia Police Department are honored on badge.nw.