John J. O'Sullivan
Agency patch
Police Officer

John J. O'Sullivan

Kansas City Police Department — Kansas City, MO
Felonious
End of Watch December 12, 1978
The Vigil Panel 120 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer O'Sullivan was shot and killed when he was ambushed by a suspect he had previously arrested. Officer O'Sullivan was sitting in his patrol car when the suspect approached him and began talking with him. After a short conversation the suspect pulled out a handgun and shot him in the chest. The suspect was convicted but has since been released from prison.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-A126C06B
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer O'Sullivan served with the Kansas City Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Kansas City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer O'Sullivan.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Kansas City, MO
Platform Identity kcpd.jackson.mo.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 12, 1978
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

Police Officer John J. O'Sullivan is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 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 63.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Kansas City Police Department, 72 of 120 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.

Kansas City Police Department
72
of 120 officers
60% Felonious
MO — Statewide
516
of 813 officers
63.5% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John J. O'Sullivan's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How John J. O'Sullivan Compares

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John J. O'Sullivan is highlighted in Dec.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John J. O'Sullivan was killed by handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909