Willard Laurence Ferguson

Kansas City Police Department — Kansas City, MO

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch February 19, 1923

Age 26

Tour of Duty 1 yrs

The Vigil Panel 44 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 119

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: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 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

Department Kansas City 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; Unknown type

Offender Shot and killed by Ptl. Ferguson

Military Service

Willard Laurence Ferguson served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Patrolman Willard Laurence Ferguson 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%.

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

of 120 officers

60% Felonious

MO — Statewide

516

of 813 officers

63.5% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious