Leola Police Department, South Dakota
End of Watch: Monday, December 12, 1921
Age: 37
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: December 12, 1921
Weapon Used: Handgun; .25 caliber
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Watchman Berry was shot and killed while on patrol. He encountered a married couple, who were dressed in each other's clothes, near the Lutheran church. The man, who was wearing women's clothes, yelled out to the officer and immediately pulled out a .25 caliber handgun and shot Watchman Berry in the abdomen.
Watchman Berry was able to return fire and shot the suspect in the knee. The suspect was arrested, convicted of murder, and sentenced to life. On October 6, 1928, his sentence was commuted to 10 years.