Roll of Honor
Incident
Undersheriff Brandon Gaede was shot and killed while arresting a subject at 899 1st Street in Phillipsburg around 9:28 p.m.
After receiving a call about loud booms and explosions around 6:00 p.m., responding officers were unable to find the source but cleared the area, attributing the noise to fireworks. At 8:30 p.m., Undersheriff Gaede responded to the scene after three more calls were made. When he encountered a subject outside his house, the man denied setting off fireworks. Undersheriff Gaede cleared the call but stayed in the area, believing that someone was exploding something stronger than commercial-grade fireworks. Another call came in regarding explosives at 9:18, and Undersheriff Gaede was immediately on the scene and found the same subject in his yard and smoke nearby. The man admitted to setting off explosives, not commercial-grade fireworks, a felony in Kansas. While placing the subject in handcuffs, the man pulled out a concealed handgun and shot Undersheriff Gaede five times. He returned fire, killing the subject.
Undersheriff Gaede was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds less than an hour later.
An investigation revealed the suspect had more than 33 pounds of illegal explosive materials, over 20 firearms, and a stockpile of ammunition.
Undersheriff Gaede had served with the Phillips County Sheriff's Office for eight years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-KS-CABA49D0- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Undersheriff Gaede gave the Phillips County Sheriff's Office 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Phillipsburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Undersheriff Gaede.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Undersheriff Brandon Gaede is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In KS, 237 of 335 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70.7% of this state's fallen. That is 16.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Brandon Gaede's cause is highlighted.
How Brandon Gaede Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Brandon Gaede is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Brandon Gaede was killed by gun; unknown type.