Ernest Gough
Agency patch
Patrolman

Ernest Gough

Leavenworth Police Department — Leavenworth, KS
Felonious
End of Watch July 29, 1932
Age 40
The Vigil Panel 64 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Gough was shot and killed when he and his partner stopped to investigate three men who were crouching down behind a tree. One of the men jumped up and opened fire, mortally wounding Patrolman Gough. It was later discovered the trio were wanted for the shooting of a filling station operator in Tonganoxie, Kansas. All three suspects were eventually apprehended, convicted of second degree murder, and sentenced to 50 years in prison. One died in prison July 11, 1954. Another escaped from the Kansas penitentiary January 19, 1934. He was captured in Claremore, Oklahoma, eight months later. While free he robbed a bank in Kingfisher, Oklahoma. He was convicted of bank robbery and sentenced to an additional 124 years in the federal penitentiary at Leavenworth.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-KS-5BBF0C75
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.
Patrolman Gough served with the Leavenworth Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Leavenworth community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Gough.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Leavenworth, Leavenworth County, KS
Platform Identity lpd.leavenworth.ks.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 29, 1932
Age 40
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Patrolman Ernest Gough 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 Leavenworth Police Department, 7 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Leavenworth Police Department
7
of 7 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. Ernest Gough's cause is highlighted.

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

How Ernest Gough Compares

Age at Death
40
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ernest Gough is highlighted in Jul.

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. Ernest Gough was killed by gun.

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