David Joe Kraxner

Independence Police Department — Independence, MO

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch October 31, 1966

Age 34

The Vigil Panel 102 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 7

Incident

Lieutenant David Kraxner was shot and killed while conducting a felony traffic stop on an escaped convict who shot a prison guard while being transported for trial. The suspect then murdered a citizen and stole his car. Lieutenant Kraxner located the vehicle and began a felony traffic stop at the intersection of U.S. 40 and Crysler Avenue but was immediately met with gunfire. Both he and the suspect were wounded in the shootout. The suspect was able to walk to Lieutenant Kraxner's vehicle, gained control of his service weapon, and then shot him execution style. The suspect was apprehended later in the morning and pleaded guilty in order to avoid the death penalty. He was subsequently sentenced to life plus 39 years in prison. Lieutenant Kraxner's killer was denied parole in January 2012. Lieutenant Kraxner is survived by his wife and children. He is buried in Pleasant View Cemetery, Shawnee, Kansas.

Survivors

Lieutenant Kraxner is survived by his wife and children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MO-F3F40B47
Stewardship: 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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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Lieutenant Kraxner served with the Independence Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Independence community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Kraxner.

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

Agency

Department Independence Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Independence, Jackson County, MO

Platform Identity ipd.jackson.mo.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 31, 1966

Age 34

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

Military Service

David Joe Kraxner served in the U.S. Army (1952â1954) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Lieutenant David Joe Kraxner 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 97,772 officers honored here.

In MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 63.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Independence Police Department, 6 of 8 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.

Independence Police Department

of 8 officers

75% Felonious

MO — Statewide

516

of 813 officers

63.5% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious