Charles A. Kieper
Agency patch
Special Agent

Charles A. Kieper

Felonious Veteran
End of Watch March 17, 1919
Age 26
The Vigil Panel 36 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Location: Illinois Weapon: Handgun Offender: Not available

Special Agent Charles Kieper was shot and killed while investigating the sounds of gunfire in the railyard near the intersection of West 47th Street and Central Park Avenue in Chicago, Illinois.

He and another officer were in a switch shanty when they heard a gunshot. As Agent Kieper looked around a freight car he was struck in the stomach by a bullet fired from within the yards. He returned fire but it is not known if he struck his assailant.

He was taken to German Evangelical Deaconess Hospital where he died of his wound.

Special Agent Kieper was survived by his wife and seven children. He was a World War I army veteran.

Survivors

Special Agent Kieper was survived by his wife and seven children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-275A2352
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 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.
Special Agent Kieper served with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Topeka 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

Type Police Department
Location Topeka, KS
Platform Identity atsfrpd.rr.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 17, 1919
Age 26
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

Military Service

Charles A. Kieper served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Special Agent Charles A. Kieper is one of 17,558 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,585 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 16.8 percentage points above the national rate of 53.9%.

At Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department, 24 of 32 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department
24
of 32 officers
75% Felonious
KS — Statewide
237
of 335 officers
70.7% Felonious
Nationwide
17,558
of 32,585 officers
53.9% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles A. Kieper's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,558 (53.9%)
Accident
10,094 (31%)
Illness
3,037 (9.3%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
334 (1%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)

How Charles A. Kieper Compares

Age at End of Watch
26
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles A. Kieper is highlighted in Mar.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charles A. Kieper was killed by handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location

Military Service

Charles A. Kieper served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.

Visit salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.