Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Police Chief Virgil Deyo was shot and killed while searching for a suspect along with a posse. Although off-duty, Deputy Chief Deyo volunteered to join the posse as he was acquainted with the suspect and believed he could talk the man into surrendering. The officers located the suspect and opened fire on his car when the suspect refused to stop. The man fled into a nearby creek bed to hide. As the officers searched some nearby underbrush, the suspect opened fire, mortally wounding Deputy Chief Deyo. Another officer returned fire and killed the man. Deputy Chief Deyo succumbed to his wounds two days later.
Survivors
Deputy Chief Deyo was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-SD-70FA3EA3- 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.
Deputy Chief of Police Deyo gave the Huron Police Department 19 years.
Thank you for your service to the Huron community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Chief of Police Deyo.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Chief of Police Virgil Laurence Deyo 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 SD, 36 of 62 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58.1% of this state's fallen. That is 3.9 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Huron Police Department, 3 of 3 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. Virgil Laurence Deyo's cause is highlighted.
How Virgil Laurence Deyo Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Virgil Laurence Deyo is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Virgil Laurence Deyo was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Huron Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
