Roll of Honor
John P. Cates
Incident
Location: Kansas Weapon: Handgun Offender: Not available
Special Officer John Cates was shot and killed in Wellington, Kansas, while attempting to arrest three men who were stealing merchandise from a freight train. A suspect was arrested in Wichita six months later. No further information about him or the other two.
Officer Cates had served with the ATSF Railroad Police for three years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-BFB5463A- 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.
Special Officer Cates gave the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Topeka community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Officer Cates.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Officer John P. Cates 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 Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department, 24 of 32 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John P. Cates's cause is highlighted.
How John P. Cates Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John P. Cates is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John P. Cates was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
31 officers from Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
