John B. Eastep

Whitman County Sheriff's Department — Colfax, WA

Felonious

End of Watch August 24, 1912

Age 51

The Vigil Panel 26 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 3

Incident

Deputy Sheriff John Eastep and Marshal Grant Dickinson, of the Tekoa Police Department, were shot and killed when the officers and several city councilmen went to close a local saloon after the license had been revoked. One of the workers at the saloon opened fire on the group, fatally wounding Marshal Dickinson and Deputy Eastep, and wounding several of the councilmen. The suspect then committed suicide.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-WA-36042256
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 Sheriff Eastep served with the Whitman County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Colfax community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Eastep.

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

Agency

Department Whitman County Sheriff's Department

Location Colfax, WA

Platform Identity wcso.whitman.wa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 24, 1912

Age 51

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle

Offender Committed suicide

Deputy Sheriff John B. Eastep 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 WA, 187 of 339 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55.2% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Whitman County Sheriff's Department, 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Whitman County Sheriff's Department

of 4 officers

100% Felonious

WA — Statewide

187

of 339 officers

55.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious