Officer Willard Chauncey Bayne was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a burglary suspect at 15th (now Truman Rd) and Poplar.

Officer Bayne had been watching Homer Vinsant after hearing that Vinsant was trying to sell watches on the street. Officer Bayne's captain advised him to bring Vinsant in if he was ever caught carrying a revolver. At shortly after midnight on February 11, 1921, Officer Bayne was on patrol on Fifteenth Street (Truman Rd) at Poplar where he came across a lone man. Police believed that Officer Bayne either questioned the man or attempted to search him. The man shot Officer Bayne in the face, the bullet entering below his right eye. Officer Bayne dropped and the man apparently began to flee. Officer Bayne shot the man from a distance of approximately 60 feet, mortally wounding him. When a street car stopped at 15th Street (Truman Rd) and Poplar Avenue, two passengers got off and went to investigate the scene. They found Officer Bayne still alive, and he told them that Vinsant had shot him. Vinsant was dead when the men checked on him - Officer Bayne's bullet had entered through his back and exited through his chest. A passing motorist took Officer Bayne to General Hospital, he died before he arrived. A pocket watch taken in an armed robbery was found in Vinsant's possession.

Survived by his mother and father, John and Louise. Interred: Elmwood Cemetery.

Article by Brent Marchant