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
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- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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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 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 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 9.3 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
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
Offender Outcome
At large
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; unknown type.