Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy John Phillips was shot and killed as he and a posse attempted to arrest a man wanted for several arsons committed in the county. The posse captured and hanged the suspect.
Deputy Phillips was survived by his wife.
Survivors
Deputy Phillips was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-NE-E093B01B- 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
142 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Phillips served with the Cedar County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Hartington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff John W. Phillips 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 NE, 97 of 151 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.2% of this state's fallen. That is 10 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. John W. Phillips's cause is highlighted.
How John W. Phillips Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John W. Phillips is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.