Roll of Honor
Incident
Constable John Willsey was shot and killed by a suspect who had gone to a home on Dry Ridge Pike, near Bevis, to steal the proceeds from the sale of the home that had been stored inside.
The suspect fled but was later captured, convicted of his murder, and sentenced to life. In April of 1939 he escaped from the London Prison Farm. He was apprehended on July 21, 1940, in Seminole, Baldwin County, Alabama, by the Baldwin County Sheriff and returned to Ohio.
Constable Willsey was survived by his wife and three children.
Survivors
Constable Willsey was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-BF7CCE72- 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.
Constable Willsey served with the Colerain Township Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Colerain community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Willsey.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Constable John Henry Willsey 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 OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 3.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Colerain Township Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Henry Willsey's cause is highlighted.
How John Henry Willsey Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Henry Willsey is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Henry Willsey was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Colerain Township Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
