John Middleton Starnes

Leavenworth Police Department — Leavenworth, KS

Felonious

End of Watch July 20, 1919

Age 66

The Vigil Panel 37 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 6

Incident

Patrolman John Starnes succumbed to wounds received one week earlier while he was attempting to arrest the occupants of a car who had been joyriding through town and had caused a traffic accident. After locating the vehicle Patrolman Starnes jumped on the running board. He was struck on the head with a crankshaft and knocked to the ground. He was taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries seven days later. All five suspects were eventually taken into custody. All five were charged with manslaughter. All five testified in court that they were so drunk they could not remember what happened. Charges against all five were dismissed.

Survivors

Patrolman Starnes was survived by his son and four daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KS-62A9D573
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.
Patrolman Starnes served with the Leavenworth Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Leavenworth community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Starnes.

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

Agency

Department Leavenworth Police Department

Location Leavenworth, KS

Platform Identity lpd.leavenworth.ks.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 20, 1919

Age 66

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Blunt object

Offender Charges dismissed

Patrolman John Middleton Starnes 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 Leavenworth Police Department, 7 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Leavenworth Police Department

of 7 officers

100% Felonious

KS — Statewide

237

of 335 officers

70.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious