Edward J. Masterson
Agency patch
City Marshal

Edward J. Masterson

Dodge City Police Department — Dodge City, KS
Felonious
End of Watch April 9, 1878
Age 26
Tour of Duty 1 yrs 3 mo
The Vigil Panel 5 ›
Gender Male

Incident

City Marshal Edward Masterson was shot and killed after disarming a drunk man who was in violation of the town's ordinance against carrying guns. After taking the gun, Marshal Masterson started walking away, but the man produced another pistol and shot him. Marshal Masterson's brother, who was across the street at the time, returned fire and killed the subject. Marshal Masterson had served with the Dodge City Police Department for a little over one year. He was survived by his parents and brothers. He is buried in an unmarked grave at Maple Grove Cemetery, Dodge City, Kansas.

Survivors

He was survived by his parents and brothers.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-KS-013E333C
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

148 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
City Marshal Masterson gave the Dodge City Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Dodge City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Dodge City, Ford County, KS
Platform Identity dpd.ford.ks.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 9, 1878
Tour of Duty 1 yrs 3 mo
Age 26
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

City Marshal Edward J. Masterson 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 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 Dodge City Police Department, 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Dodge City Police Department
4
of 4 officers
100% Felonious
KS — Statewide
237
of 335 officers
70.7% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Edward J. Masterson's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Edward J. Masterson Compares

Age at Death
26
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
1.2
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Edward J. Masterson is highlighted in Apr.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Edward J. Masterson was killed by handgun.

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