Charles D. Hoffman

Wichita Police Department — Wichita, KS

Felonious

End of Watch November 25, 1921

Age 36

Tour of Duty 14 yrs

The Vigil Panel 42 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 23

Incident

Detective Charles Hoffman died from injuries sustained two days earlier while attempting to arrest the leader of a gang responsible for the murders of Patrolman A.L. Young and Patrolman Robert Fitzpatrick earlier in the month. The suspect had attempted to rent a vehicle from a local shop at 306 South Lawrence Avenue (modern-day South Broadway), and the shop owner alerted the police. As Detective Hoffman entered the store, the man pulled a gun, and Detective Huffman lunged forward and grabbed him. During the struggle, the suspect was able to shoot Detective Hoffman and wound another officer. A third officer on the scene returned fire and killed the suspect. Detective Hoffman was taken to St. Francis hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds. Detective Hoffman had served with the Wichita Police Department for six years and had previously served as the City Marshal for Caldwell, the town of Lansing, and a detective with the Railway Company. He was survived by his wife, son, and two daughters. He is buried at Old Mission Cemetery, Sedgwick County, Wichita, Kansas.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KS-A99DCAF6
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Hoffman gave the Wichita Police Department 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the Wichita community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Hoffman.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Wichita Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Wichita, Sedgwick County, KS

Platform Identity wpd.sedgwick.ks.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 25, 1921

Tour of Duty 14 yrs

Age 36

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

Detective Charles D. Hoffman is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 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 70.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Wichita Police Department, 15 of 24 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.5% of this agency's fallen.

Wichita Police Department

of 24 officers

62.5% Felonious

KS — Statewide

237

of 335 officers

70.7% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,756 officers

0% Felonious