IN MEMORIAM
Officer
Willard Lawrence Ferguson
Kansas City Police Dept

EOW: Monday, Feb 19, 1923

Incident date:
Age: 23
DOB: Feb 25, 1899
Tour:
Badge: #
Cause: Gunfire
Location:
Memorial Location
Panel:
7
Row:
2
Column:
7

Officer Wright Bryant was shot and fatally wounded when attempting to arrest an armed robbery suspect.

On December 1, 1923, Officer Bryant observed a man attempting to rob a filling station at Admiral and Paseo. As Officer Bryant, Acting Sergeant Bert Haycock, and Officer J. A. Vincent approached, the suspect fired - striking Officer Bryant in the left shoulder exiting through his back of his right shoulder. The other officers gave chase to the suspect, an additional Officer Button caught up with him and shot the suspect who died at the scene. The suspect had sustained eight gunshot wounds in the battle and was believed to be a robbery suspect who had plagued the area filling stations. Officer Bryant had originally been resting comfortably at St Luke's Hospital but his lungs had been injured and complications resulted in his death.

Officer Bryant, 29, was a US Army veteran of WWI having served in the 128th Engineers. He was survived by his wife, Wynona Mullins Bryant, and an 8 month old daughter. Interred: Mount Washington Cemetery.


Article by Brent Marchant


Missouri Law Enforcement Memorial