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Incident
Patrolman S.A. Hartzell was accidentally shot and killed by the owner of a store on Chicago Avenue (modern day Douglas Avenue).
He had gone to the store to trade his service revolver for a smaller gun that would fit in his pocket better. After Patrolman Hartzell placed cartridges in the gun, the owner asked to see it again to explain how the trigger worked. As he pulled the hammer back his thumb slipped, causing the gun to discharge. Patrolman Hartzell was struck in the abdomen and suffered a serious wound.
Patrolman Hartzell was taken to a store next door where a doctor was summonsed. He died the following day.
Patrolman Hartzell was a Union Army veteran of the Civil War and had served with the Wichita Police Department for only eight months.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and six children.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. S. is one person.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Hartzell served with the Wichita Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Wichita community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
S. A. Hartzell served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Wichita Police Department has lost 24 officers; 15 of them killed feloniously.
S. is one of 237 officers killed feloniously in KS, 70.7% of the 335 remembered there.
S. is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
S. is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1888, 2 officers at Wichita Police Department were killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 10 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 3.
In 1888, 7 officers in KS were killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 112 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 8.
In 1888, 60 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 126th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1888, 63 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 126th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
S. was 36. Of the 13 killed feloniously at Wichita Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 40; the middle age was 36. S. had served 0.7 years; the middle length of service was 2 years.
S. was 36. Of the 211 killed feloniously in KS whose age is recorded, half were between 34 and 49; the middle age was 42. S. had served 0.7 years; the middle length of service was 4.5 years.
S. was 36. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. S. had served 0.7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
S. was 36. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. S. had served 0.7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
December holds 6.7% of these deaths at Wichita Police Department; November holds the most, 33.3%. Fridays: 40%.
December holds 8.9% of these deaths in KS; July holds the most, 11.4%. Fridays: 15.2%.
December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Fridays: 14.3%.
December holds 9.2% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Fridays: 14.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 62.5% of all 24 deaths at Wichita Police Department, the most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 70.7% of all 335 deaths in KS, the most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause.
His people
Wichita Police Department has 24 officers remembered here, S. among them.
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J. W. Kerwin Mar 23, 1888
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Henry Ebenhack Sep 24, 1888
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S. A. Hartzell
Dec 14, 1888
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William L. Humphries
Feb 23, 1915
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Frank W. Griswold
May 23, 1915
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William H. Ballard
Jul 20, 1920
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A. L. Young
Nov 5, 1921
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Robert Fitzpatrick
Nov 21, 1921
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Charles D. Hoffman
Nov 25, 1921
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Charles E. Galloway
Jul 15, 1923
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Robert C. Scudder
Nov 30, 1923
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Harrison R. Brown
Jan 5, 1925
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Edward W. Hall
Apr 10, 1925
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Vernon E. Ogden
Jun 26, 1927
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Joseph Earl Marshall
Aug 29, 1927
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Paul E. Gilmore
Jul 18, 1930
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James O. Pugh
Jul 31, 1930
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Merle Rankin Colver
Aug 14, 1931
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David A. Kenyon
Oct 26, 1962
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Paul Garofalo
Nov 8, 1980
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Danny Dean Laffey
Jan 5, 1982
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John Eugene Galvin
Nov 4, 2000
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Stephen Martin Oct 30, 2005
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Clay Morsell Germany
Jul 9, 2021
Where
Military Service
S. A. Hartzell served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Visit S. A. Hartzell’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
23 officers from Wichita Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
