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Night Marshal John Wesley Rose | Kirksville Police Department, Missouri
Kirksville Police Department, Missouri

Night Marshal

John Wesley Rose

Kirksville Police Department, Missouri

End of Watch: Monday, November 17, 1930

Biographical Info

Age: 60
Tour of Duty: 18 years
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details

Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: November 17, 1930
Weapon Used: Handgun; .45 caliber
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life

Night Marshal John Rose was shot and killed while he and another marshal questioned a man in connection with a gas station robbery.

A citizen had seen the suspect asleep in a car at the intersection of Jefferson Street and Elson Street. When the officers arrived the car was gone but they located it a short distance away driving on Elson Street. They followed it until it stopped at a filling station. As the officers attempted to question the man he shot Marshal Rose and the other officer before escaping into nearby woods.

In 1933 the suspect was sentenced to life in prison for the 1932 murders of Patrolman Ira Evans and Patrolman Leo Gorski, both of the Minneapolis, Minnesota, Police Department.

In 1934 the suspect was believed to have gone insane and was transferred to a state hospital. Two years later he led an escape of 15 inmates and continued to rob banks. On July 8th, 1936, he shot and killed Officer Cal Palmer, of the Enid, Oklahoma, Police Department, after getting drunk in a local bar.

Marshal Rose had served in law enforcement for 18 years and was survived by his wife and six children. He is buried in Maple Hills Cemetery, Kirskville, Missouri.