George Gilbert Barton Sr.
Agency patch
Patrolman

George Gilbert Barton Sr.

Independence Police Department — Independence, MO
Felonious
End of Watch January 26, 1922
The Vigil Panel 42 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman George Barton was walking his beat on the Public Square at about 3:30 a.m. when he noticed a suspicious individual. The man pulled out a Colt .45 and shot Patrolman Barton, who died two hours later at the Independence Sanitarium and Hospital. The chief of police found the shooter near Main Street and Lexington Avenue and was met with a barrage of bullets, but returned fire and killed the man.

Survivors

Patrolman Barton was survived by his wife and is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Jackson County, Missouri.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-C47296E4
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 Barton served with the Independence Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Independence community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Barton.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Independence, Jackson County, MO
Platform Identity ipd.jackson.mo.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 26, 1922
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

Patrolman George Gilbert Barton Sr. 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
6
of 8 officers
75% Felonious
MO — Statewide
516
of 813 officers
63.5% 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. George Gilbert Barton Sr.'s cause is highlighted.

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

How George Gilbert Barton Sr. Compares

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. George Gilbert Barton Sr. is highlighted in Jan.

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. George Gilbert Barton Sr. 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