Roll of Honor

Prev Next

Sheriff

John Henry Dillingham

Platte County Sheriff's Office — Platte City, MO

Felonious

End of Watch August 20, 1900

Age 46

The Vigil Panel 16 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Sheriff John Dillingham was shot and killed near Farley, Missouri, after pursuing a suspect who had gone on a shooting spree.

The man had murdered his wife, mother-in-law, and had shot at patrons of a store. After shooting Sheriff Dillingham the man was shot and killed by the Sheriff's son. The suspect was a doctor who was abusing a pain killer.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MO-FE10B528
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew John. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sheriff Dillingham served with the Platte County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Platte City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Dillingham.

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

Agency

Department Platte County Sheriff's Office

Location Platte City, MO

Platform Identity pcso.platte.mo.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 20, 1900

Age 46

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Shot and killed

Sheriff John Henry Dillingham 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 Platte County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Platte County Sheriff's Office

of 2 officers

100% Felonious

MO — Statewide

516

of 813 officers

63.5% 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. John Henry Dillingham'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 John Henry Dillingham Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Henry Dillingham is highlighted in Aug.

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. John Henry Dillingham was killed by gun; unknown type.

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 Platte County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.