Roll of Honor
Incident
Marshal Brendel succumbed to wounds received five days earlier when he was struck in the back of the head with a piece of wood. Several times that day he had broken up a group of men who were drinking in an alley. After each time he broke them up the men would regroup. The third time he instructed them to leave he was attacked and struck from behind. He remained in a coma for five days before succumbing to the wounds.
One suspect was charged with his murder. On March 10, 1904, he was tried and acquitted.
Marshal Brendel had been with the agency for five years and was survived by his wife and five children.
Survivors
Marshal Brendel had been with the agency for five years and was survived by his wife and five children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-5B1D4A6F- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
City Marshal Brendel gave the Knob Noster Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Knob Noster community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, City Marshal Brendel.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
City Marshal John Henry Brendel 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 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 9.3 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 Henry Brendel's cause is highlighted.
How John Henry Brendel Compares
Offender Outcome
Acquitted
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Henry Brendel is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Henry Brendel was killed by blunt object; lumber.