Huron Police Department, South Dakota
End of Watch Tuesday, November 29, 1966
Add to My HeroesVirgil Laurence Deyo
Deputy Police Chief Virgil Deyo was shot and killed while searching for a suspect along with a posse.
Although off-duty, Deputy Chief Deyo volunteered to join the posse as he was acquainted with the suspect and believed he could talk the man into surrendering. The officers located the suspect and opened fire on his car when the suspect refused to stop. The man fled into a nearby creek bed to hide.
As the officers searched some nearby underbrush, the suspect opened fire, mortally wounding Deputy Chief Deyo. Another officer returned fire and killed the man.
Deputy Chief Deyo succumbed to his wounds two days later.
Deputy Chief Deyo was survived by his wife and three children.
Bio
- Age 46
- Tour 19 years
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Incident Date Sunday, November 27, 1966
- Weapon Gun; Unknown type
- Offender Shot and killed
Most Recent Reflection
View all 6 ReflectionsVirgil. Every kid in town knew Police Officer Virgil Deyo because he was patient with his time around kids. I don't know what else Virgil offered to his community in life other than his Police Department service; but his 'tough but gentle' image to me and my boyhood friends in Huron made him a heroic figure everyday. I dispatched for the State Police for several years after Virgil was killed and heard words of admiration from our Law Enforcement community for Virgil's dedication to his work and his family.
Jay Hinker, USA-USN, State Radio Dispatc
SoDak State Radio
August 11, 2015
Recent LODD Deaths
Detective Clarence E. Word, III
New York City Police Department, NY
EOW: October 1, 2024
Trooper Corey S. Thompsen
Illinois State Police, IL
EOW: October 18, 2024
Detective Maurice "Mo" Joseph
Norfolk Police Department, VA
EOW: October 9, 2024
Corrections Officer Bradford D. McNew
Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: October 12, 2024
Corporal Raymond Kuuchi
United States Department of Veterans Affairs Police Services, US
EOW: September 2, 2024
Park Ranger Kevin Melvin Grossheim
United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service, US
EOW: October 6, 2024
Deputy Sheriff Lex Allen Love
Wise County Sheriff's Office, TX
EOW: October 2, 2024
Deputy Constable Ruben Garcia
Cameron County Constable's Office - Precinct 1, TX
EOW: September 30, 2024
Trooper Kevin Alexis Ramirez-Vasquez
Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Highway Patrol, TX
EOW: September 28, 2024