The Sheriff's Department recently honored fallen Sheriff Phillip Kearbey at a dedication held Monday, May 17 at their facility. The previous address of 200 Oak Street is now 200 Phillip Kearbey Blvd. Also, unveiled in Mondays dedication was a memorial outside the front entrance of the Sheriff's Department.

      Sheriff Kearbey began his career in 1913 at the age of 36 and was married with two small children. On May 14, 1915 he received information that an escapee from Ohio may have gotten off the train in Poplar Bluff. Later that day he along with other deputies went to a location known as Vinegar Hill (South Poplar Bluff). When the officers arrived at this location they split up. Sheriff Kearbey along with Constable Hubert Powell proceeded to an area where they came up on 2 individuals laying near a fence at the edge of a tree line. As they approached one of the individuals rolled over and began firing. The suspect was killed and Sheriff Kearbey was struck in the abdomen. He died from the gunshot wound on May 17, 1915.

      Speaking at the dedication were Poplar Bluff Chief of Police - Danny Whiteley, Mayor - Tracy Edington, Presiding Commissioner - Ed Strenfel, and Sheriff - Mark Dobbs.