Joseph Earl Marshall
Agency patch
Patrolman

Joseph Earl Marshall

Wichita Police Department — Wichita, KS
Felonious
End of Watch August 29, 1927
Age 30
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
The Vigil Panel 53 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Joseph Marshall was shot and killed near the intersection of Broadway Street and 11th Avenue when he and his partner stopped a vehicle whose occupants they recognized as members of the Barker-Kipnis Gang. As Patrolman Marshall approached, the driver pulled him into the vehicle and shot him three times, killing him. His partner was able to return fire and mortally wounded the driver. Despite the wound, the driver drove a short distance before crashing. The man then committed suicide. One of the other subjects in the vehicle was shot and killed the following day. The third subject was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. Patrolman Marshall had served with the Wichita Police Department for two years. Survivors include his wife and two children. He is buried in Wichita Park Cemetery and Mausoleum, Wichita, Kansas. The Barker-Karpis Gang committed violent crimes throughout the American Midwest in the late 1920s and mid-1930s. Members and associates of the gang were responsible for the murders of more than ten law enforcement officers. Please click here to view all the law enforcement officers killed by the Barker-Karpis Gang.

Survivors

Survivors include his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-KS-1D4F71EC
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 Marshall gave the Wichita Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Wichita community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Marshall.

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

Agency

Location Wichita, KS
Platform Identity wpd.sedgwick.ks.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 29, 1927
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Age 30
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Shot and killed, committed suicide, Life

Patrolman Joseph Earl Marshall 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 Wichita Police Department, 15 of 24 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.5% of this agency's fallen.

Wichita Police Department
15
of 24 officers
62.5% Felonious
KS — Statewide
237
of 335 officers
70.7% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph Earl Marshall's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Joseph Earl Marshall Compares

Age at End of Watch
30
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
2
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed, committed suicide, Life

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Earl Marshall is highlighted in Aug.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph Earl Marshall was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location