Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Martin was shot and killed when he entered a shoe store to investigate an open door. A citizen who had found a new shoe lying on the street took it home to show his brother. When the two checked about 0730 hours to see if shoe stores in the area had been burglarized, they found Policeman Martin's body lying inside the open door of one of the shoe stores. Four men were arrested for the murder. After being arrested, one of the men implicated another of the men as the actual trigger man. The trigger man was convicted of murder and sentenced to 25 years and 7 years for burglary. He was paroled on October 24, 1933. The suspect who implicated him was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 20 years.
Survivors
Officer Martin was survived by his wife, five children, three brothers and three sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-CB2DE7E9- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Martin served with the Cape Girardeau Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Cape Girardeau community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Martin.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer Willis Martin 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 Cape Girardeau Police Dept., 5 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Willis Martin's cause is highlighted.
How Willis Martin Compares
Offender Outcome
Paroled in 1933
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Willis Martin is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Willis Martin was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Cape Girardeau Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
