EUGENE, Ore. — A heartfelt Memorial Day ceremony in Eugene honored the legacy of Chief Woodrow “Woody” Whetstone, a Junction City police officer who was killed in the line of duty in 1960. The ceremony, held at West Lawn Memorial Park, brought together veterans, officials, and family members to remember his sacrifice.
Chief Whetstone was shot and killed on December 26, 1960, while trying to de-escalate a domestic dispute outside his home. He was off-duty and home for lunch when he intervened in a tense situation involving a woman, her boyfriend, and her ex-boyfriend. Despite his efforts to calm the situation, he was shot at close range by the ex-boyfriend.
The suspect was arrested, but speakers at the event said he served only seven years after accepting a plea deal.
Today, Chief Whetstone’s bravery lives on through his family, including his granddaughter who attended the ceremony…