Law Enforcement Officers Memorial

Officer Down Memorial Page

This page is dedicated to those officers who paid the ultimate price while serving Jefferson County.

Sheriff Leo C. Church

Sheriff Leo E. Church

May 2, 1960

Sheriff Church was returning from a business trip to Jefferson City, Missouri, when he was involved in a fatal auto accident on Highway 30.   The Sheriff's wife Helen, was appointed as Sheriff of Jefferson County to fill the unexpired term of her husband.

Chief Deputy James H. Marsden

Chief Deputy James H. Marsden

July 11, 1957

Chief Deputy Marsden responded off-duty to Highways 21 & 110, in response to a failure to pay for gas.  Chief Marsden placed the suspect in the car to discuss the incident.  A struggle ensued and the suspect killed Marsden with his own duty weapon.  The killing of Marsden was witnessed by his wife, who was a passenger in the car.

Deputy William Myers

Deputy William Myers

July 31, 1980

Deputy Myers was seriously wounded by gunfire while encountering an armed gunman, in a hostage situation. Deputy Myers was confined to a wheelchair as a result of his wounds.  He succumbed to his injuries on July 31, 1980.

Deputy Terry O'Connell

Deputy Terry O'Connell

April 5, 1978

Deputy O'Connell conducted a routine traffic stop on Highway 30.  The driver of the car, Jack Lindsey, suddenly drew a handgun and fatally shot Deputy O'Connell.  Lindsay was captured after a long manhunt and is presently serving a life sentence, in the Missouri Department of Corrections.

Deputy James Garrison

Deputy James Garrison

July 3, 1982

Deputy Garrison was fatally injured in an auto accident, on Hwy. 30, when his patrol car was struck broadside by another motorist.   Deputy Garrison was survived by his wife and five children.

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Marshall Willis Dearing

December 16, 1897

DeSoto Police Department

Marshal Willis Dearing was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a drunk man in a city street. The suspect had been asking for credit in a local bar and fired a shot into the street when the owner refused.  The man then shot Marshal Dearing as he attempted to arrest him.  Marshal Dearing was predeceased by his wife and five children. Four of his children were from his first wife.

Deputy Constable Conrad Straher

Deputy Constable Conrad Straher

June 3, 1930

Imperial Police Department

Deputy Constable Conrad Straher was shot and killed after catching two teenagers who were stealing tires from an automobile.  Constable Straher followed the subjects along Highway 61 until they turned down a private road in St. Louis County. When the pair stopped Constable Straher ordered the two to remove the tire from their car. A struggle ensued and one of the subjects shot him.  After falling to the ground Constable Straher returned fire, killing one of the subjects. The other subject fled the scene but was arrested a short time later.  Constable Straher was survived by his wife.

Deputy Constable Wallace B. Caudle

Deputy Constable Wallace B. Caudle

October 20, 1935

Rock Township

World War I veteran, Jefferson County officer for several years including time as deputy sheriff. Struck and killed while directing traffic from a previous accident, struck by a beer truck and dragged 200 feet.

Patrolman John H. LeCompte

Patrolman John H. LeCompte

November 21, 1976

Arnold Police Department

Patrolman LeCompte succumbed to gunshot wounds received 29 days earlier when he was shot with his own service weapon during a struggle with a burglary suspect. Patrolman LeCompte remained hospitalized from the time of the shooting until succumbing to his wounds.  Police dragged the suspect from the Meramec River the next day after he was wounded in an exchange of gunfire.  Patrolman LeCompte had been with the agency for two years and was survived by his two young daughters.

Patrolman Steven Arthur Jarvis

Patrolman Steven Arthur Jarvis

June 14, 1977

Arnold Police Department

Patrolman Jarvis was killed in an automobile accident on I-55 while on duty.

Officer Stephen J. Strehl

Officer Stephen J. Strehl

November 19, 1993

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department

Detective Strehl was killed when the helicopter he was riding in crashed near Antonio in Jefferson County, Missouri. Officer Strehl was on a special DEA task force on drug surveillance when the accident occurred.  Detective Strehl is survived by his wife and three sons.

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