John H. Bruner
Incident
Chief John Bruner was struck and killed by a vehicle while directing traffic around his crashed patrol vehicle. He and a sheriff's deputy were returning to Jefferson City after transporting a prisoner to Kansas City. During the drive back their vehicle skidded off of the highway near Lee's Summit. The officers exited the patrol car and were using flashlights to direct oncoming traffic away from the vehicle when Chief Bruner was struck. Chief Bruner was a WWI veteran and a military Silver Star recipient.
Survivors
He had been with the agency for five years and was survived by his wife, two sons, and mother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-595CC162- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew John. Claim this record.
Also honored at salute.nw. One record, 2 gates. John is one person.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
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.
Chief of Police Bruner gave the Jefferson City Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Jefferson 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 H. Bruner served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Chief of Police John H. Bruner is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 officers honored here.
In MO, 237 of 813 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 29.2% of this state's fallen. That is 29.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Jefferson City Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John H. Bruner's cause is highlighted.
How John H. Bruner Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. John H. Bruner is highlighted in Jan.
Military Service
John H. Bruner served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Visit John H. Bruner’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Jefferson City Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
