Roll of Honor
Incident
Constable Breene was shot and killed in his own home after surprising a burglar. The burglar was known to Constable Breene and had previously been arrested by the constable. As Constable Breene chased the man he was shot and killed. The suspect was apprehended a few days later. Constable Breene was a U.S. Army Veteran who fought in Indian Wars in 1874.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and seven children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KS-8EEEE175- 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
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Constable Breene gave the Arkansas City Police Department 20 years.
Thank you for your service to the Arkansas City community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
John J. Breene served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Constable John J. Breene 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John J. Breene's cause is highlighted.
How John J. Breene Compares
Offender Outcome
Apprehended
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John J. Breene is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John J. Breene was killed by gun; unknown type.