Roll of Honor

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City Marshal

John Donald McElrath

Greenfield Police Department — Greenfield, MO

Felonious

End of Watch June 20, 1881

Age 26

The Vigil Panel 6 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

City Marshal Donald McElrath was shot and killed near Arcola by the leader of a gang of horse thieves he attempted to arrest. The suspect was captured six weeks later in Jasper County, Missouri.

The suspect, leader of a gang of outlaws, was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to be hanged, but appealed and was granted a new trial. On May 30, 1882, he pled guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 99 years in the Missouri Penitentiary. On December 25, 1896, he was pardoned by Governor William J. Stone with the condition that he leave Missouri and never return.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MO-A6EEEDC6
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

145 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
City Marshal McElrath served with the Greenfield Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Greenfield community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Greenfield Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Greenfield, Dade County, MO

Platform Identity gpd.dade.mo.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 20, 1881

Age 26

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

City Marshal John Donald McElrath 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 97,756 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%.

Greenfield Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

MO — Statewide

516

of 813 officers

63.5% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,756 officers

0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Donald McElrath's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

1 (0%)

Accident

1 (0%)

Illness

1 (0%)

Cardiac

1 (0%)

Undetermined

1 (0%)

Suicide

1 (0%)

How John Donald McElrath Compares

Age at Death

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Donald McElrath is highlighted in Jun.

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. John Donald McElrath was killed by gun; unknown type.

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 Greenfield Police Department are honored on badge.nw.