Chief of Police William Arnold Bearshield, Sr., Gregory Police Department, South Dakota

Chief of Police William Arnold Bearshield, Sr.

Gregory Police Department, South Dakota

End of Watch Monday, July 26, 1976

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William Arnold Bearshield, Sr.

Chief of Police William Bearshield was stabbed to death by a man who had been harassing him at a pow-wow at Milks Camp. When the chief confronted the man he was stabbed.

The 18-year-old suspect was arrested by FBI agents and charged on a federal warrant with second-degree murder. On December 5, 2009, the suspect was a victim of a murder-suicide after his son, 22, shot and killed him and then himself in an apartment in Clarksville, Tennessee.

Chief Bearshield had served with the Gregory Police Department for four years. He was buried at Saint Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Gregory. He was survived by his wife, three daughters, two sons, one grandchild, and six siblings.

Bio

Age 42
Tour 4 years
Badge Not available

Incident Details

Cause Stabbed
Weapon Edged weapon
Offender Charged with murder

disturbance, off duty

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Most Recent Reflection

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Chief Bearshield,
We never met, but I have heard many many stories about you from your grandson, William James Marshall. He always speaks of you as a remarkable man who made such a difference in so many lives...he has taken me several times to visit your gravesite and I know that not a day goes by that he doesn’t think of you. Thank you, not only for your service and sacrifice, but for being a part of making this wonderful man beside me the man that he is today. I know you look down and are so proud of your family...they are very special people and I am honored to be amongst them.
Sincerely and respectfully,
Tessa M Jones

Tessa M Jones
Family friend

January 7, 2018