Officer Doris Wayne Barber
On July 28, 1960 at approximately 5:15 P.M., Officer D. Wayne Barber attempted to serve court documents on Huston Heird, 47 years of age, at Teachers Trailer Court in Sitka, Alaska. Heird had refused to release the personal belongings of a woman who had recently arrived from Germany, forcing her to obtain a court order for assistance.
Officer Andy Peters, who was off duty and unarmed, sat in the patrol vehicle while Officer Barber approached the trailer. According to a statement from Officer Peters, as Barber approached the trailer, Peters heard the sound of a gunshot and saw Barber fall to the ground. Shortly after radioing for help, Peters heard another gunshot coming from inside the trailer.
When help arrived, Officer Barber was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead of a gunshot wound through the heart. When officers entered the trailer, Heird was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
Officer Barber, 33 years of age, was hired at the Sitka Police Department just two months prior to his murder. He had previous law enforcement experience with police departments in Chino, California and Las Vegas, Nevada.
Officer
Barber was born on December 7, 1926. He grew up in Chino, California, served
in the U. S. Army during the latter stages of World War II and was trained
as a paratrooper. After leaving military service, he returned to California
with his first wife, Wanda, whom he married in 1943. They had three children,
Suzanne, Alan, and Douglas. Officer Barber loved to race cars and ride
motorcycles. He learned to fly and was a member of a group called “Mercy
Jumpers”,
that was formed by a doctor who jumped with them into remote areas to provide
medical aid.
Officer Barber moved to Sitka with his second wife, Joyce, in January 1960. According to his family, Joyce and he adopted a baby girl named Sherri. Joyce gave birth to their son, Dwayne a few months after his death. His two older sons, Alan and Douglas, had just arrived eight days prior to his death to spend the summer with their dad. Although it has been 45 years since his death, both Alan and Douglas still vividly recall hearing the ambulance’s siren not realizing it was for their father.
Officer D. Wayne Barber was the first officer killed in the line of duty after Alaska was granted statehood in 1958. This plaque is dedicated to his memory. May the citizens of the City and Borough of Sitka never forget his ultimate sacrifice.
Chief Robert Gorder
Sitka Police Department
March 12, 2005
Engraving
of Officer Barber's name on the National Law Enforcement Memorial Wall
submitted by Sgt. Ginny Moring
Additional Recognition for Officer Barber:
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial