Officer Fred Palmore was shot and killed when he and another officer went to a man's home to arrest him on a warrant.

On August 16, 1888, Officer Frederick Palmore was shot and killed after he and Officer Roberts went to a man's home to arrest a suspect on a warrant for shooting at another man. A woman answered the door and said that the suspect, Cy Bearden, was in bed. The officers went to the bedroom, Officer Palmore removed a revolver from under the pillow and directed the suspect to get up and get dressed. The suspect grabbed his revolver from Officer Palmore. Officer Roberts grabbed the suspect and shot him in the arm. The lamp went out and shots were exchanged in the dark. Officer Palmore was shot in the chest, wounded in the back of the head during the battle and the suspect, who had been wounded in the neck, fled the scene. Officer Palmore was taken to a nearby home and died a week later.

A tip on the suspects location was received by police who responded to a farm house in the area and observed the suspect emerge from the house. Police confronted the suspect as he walked along the road near the home and a gun fight ensued. The suspect, who presented a revolver and pointed it at police sustained a bullet wound in the back near his spinal column. The suspect, Cy Bearden, was tried and sentenced to 99 years in prison. On July 17, 1899, after serving 10 years of his 99 year sentence, Bearden was pardoned by Governor Lawrence Stephens based on Bearden's exemplary conduct while in prison.

Officer Palmore was a Confederate veteran of the Civil War, serving in the 39th Virginia Cavalry, General Lee's personal cavalry command. He served with the Springfield Police Department for four years. He was survived by his wife, Cornelia, and four children. Interred: Springfield National Cemetery, Springfield, Missouri.

Article by Brent Marchant