Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Kurt Ford was shot and killed while conducting a forced entry during a hostage situation at 131 SE 14th Street in Newton.
The hostage situation stemmed from a domestic disturbance earlier in the evening. When officers arrived at the home the male subject took a female subject hostage. Deputy Ford and other members of the Harvey County Emergency Response Team responded to the scene. Three hours into the standoff the subject started attacking the hostage. The ERT team made a forced entry into the home and was met with gunfire from the man, who was armed with two handguns.
Deputy Ford was struck in the head and fatally wounded. Another member of the team, a detective with the Hesston Police Department, was shot twice and wounded. The subject remained barricaded in the home for an additional five hours before surrendering.
The subject, a convicted felon, had a history of domestic violence reports at his home. Police later found multiple weapons at the scene. The man was convicted of capital murder on June 28th, 2006, and was subsequently sentenced to life in prison.
Deputy Ford had just returned to law enforcement to serve with the Harvey County Sheriff's Office four months earlier. He had previously served in law enforcement for 13 years with multiple agencies in Kansas and Colorado.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KS-DB55F626- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Kurt. Claim this record.
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Ford gave the Harvey County Sheriff's Office 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Newton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Ford.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Kurt Andrew Ford 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Kurt Andrew Ford's cause is highlighted.
How Kurt Andrew Ford Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Kurt Andrew Ford is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Kurt Andrew Ford was killed by gun; unknown type.