Type of Officer: Deputy Sheriff
Jurisdiction: Sedgwick County
County: Sedgwick
Death Date: 5/12/1991
Added to Memorial: 1992
Circumstances of Death: Gunshot
Officer Willems was returning to police headquarters at the end of his shift at 11:00 P.M. when he stopped a van to question the three occupants. One of the occupants, Garland Deavers, had an outstanding pickup warrant out on him. He had no identification and gave the officer his brother’s name. Willems was suspicious and obtained a waiver to search the van. The officer asked the occupants to step to the front of the van. He located a film canister of Marijuana and notified Garland Deavers that he was under arrest. Garland struck the officer and a fight ensued. A second occupant, Fred Wayne Deaver, took advantage of the confusion to grab a .357 revolver from the van and shoot the patrolman in the upper right thigh. As the officer lay on the ground Fred Deaver shot him through the head. The third occupant ran from the scene prior to the shooting and was not charged. The two Deaver’s were convicted and sentenced to prison.
Panel: 15