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Police Officer Will Garr | Caney Police Department, Kansas
Caney Police Department, Kansas

Police Officer

Will Garr

Caney Police Department, Kansas

End of Watch: Tuesday, April 14, 1908

Biographical Info

Age:
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details

Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: April 14, 1908
Weapon Used: Handgun; .44 caliber
Suspect Info: Pardoned in 1917

Officer Garr was shot and killed by a man whom he had arrested. The man, who was sentenced to prison, held Officer Garr responsible for a prison sentence that he felt was unjustified. When released, the man opened a saloon and accused Officer Garr of harrassing him and his customers. The man located Officer Garr and the two exchanged words before the man produced a gun and shot Officer Garr four times.

The suspect was convicted of Officer Garr's murder and sentenced to life in prison. He was pardoned on November 4, 1917. On June 4, 1918, he was arrested for stealing a car in Joplin, Missouri, and sent to prison. In September of 1924 he was arrested again after he and four other men engaged in a gun battle with several officers in Coffeyville, Kansas, after they were caught stealing a car. One officer was shot and wounded. Citizens old enough to remember said the shootout was a lot like one on October 5, 1892, when citizens shot it out with the Dalton Gang as they attempted to rob two banks at the same time.