Webb City officials gathered Tuesday for a ceremony to remember a Webb City law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty over 120 years ago. KRPS’s Fred Fletcher-Fierro has more.
On Tuesday morning, officers from Webb City PD, Mayor Lynn Ragsdale, and officers from neighboring departments were on hand at Webb City cemetery to remember Webb City, City Marshall Leonard Rich. He was killed in the line of duty on August 10, 1902, while responding to a disturbance inside of Lizzie Reed’s Resort.
Marshall Rich was buried in Webb City cemetery, but his gravestone didn’t indicate that he died in the line of duty until yesterday. Webb City Police Chief Don Melton says that little is known about Marshall Rich.
“I began searching for a descendant of Marshall Rich, in hopes that they would allow us to add a plaque or an engraving to his headstone to memorialize his line of duty death. I’ve not been able to find any of Marshall Rich’s descendants.”
At the time of Rich’s death, he was married with a six-year-old daughter. If you think you may be related to Leonard Rich or have more information about his life, contact the Webb City Police Department at 417-673-1911. Or visit their website at WebbCityMo.org. For 89 9 KRPS, I’m Fred Fletcher-Fierro
