Incident
Police Officer Jeff Atherly and Corporal David Gogian were shot and killed while checking on a suspicious vehicle in a grocery store parking lot on the 1400 block of SW Huntoon Street shortly after 6:00 pm.
Several minutes after making contact with the multiple subjects in the vehicle, one of them opened fire, fatally wounding Officer Atherly and Corporal Gogian. A third officer on the scene was not wounded.
The subject, who opened fire, fled in the vehicle and was located in a home on Third Street, where he barricaded himself for several hours. He was eventually shot and killed after exiting the house while carrying a firearm. He had a criminal record, and his probation had just ended.
Officer Atherly had served with the Topeka Police Department for just under two years.
Survivors
He is survived by his child.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KS-09126781- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
You barely got started.
Police Officer Atherly gave the Topeka Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Topeka community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Atherly.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Jeffrey Glenn Atherly is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 16.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Topeka Police Department, 6 of 10 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Jeffrey Glenn Atherly's cause is highlighted.
How Jeffrey Glenn Atherly Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jeffrey Glenn Atherly is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Jeffrey Glenn Atherly was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
9 officers from Topeka Police Department are honored on badge.nw.







