Maurice A. Bedell Sr.
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Maurice A. Bedell Sr.

Wyandotte County Sheriff's Office — Kansas City, KS
Felonious
End of Watch August 29, 1954
Age 51
The Vigil Panel 90 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Maurice Bedell was shot and killed while he and his partner were transporting a suspect to the local jail. They had just arrested the man for robbery. During the ride to the jail, the man was able to gain control of Deputy Bedell's partner's revolver and shot Deputy Bedell. The suspect escaped but was later shot and killed by other officers.

Survivors

Deputy Bedell was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-KS-72F75589
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.
Deputy Sheriff Bedell served with the Wyandotte County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Kansas City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Bedell.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Kansas City, Wyandotte County, KS
Platform Identity wcso.wyandotte.ks.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 29, 1954
Age 51
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Officer's handgun

Deputy Sheriff Maurice A. Bedell Sr. 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 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 70.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Wyandotte County Sheriff's Office, 8 of 10 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80% of this agency's fallen.

Wyandotte County Sheriff's Office
8
of 10 officers
80% Felonious
KS — Statewide
237
of 335 officers
70.7% 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. Maurice A. Bedell Sr.'s cause is highlighted.

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

How Maurice A. Bedell Sr. Compares

Age at Death
51
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Maurice A. Bedell Sr. is highlighted in Aug.

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. Maurice A. Bedell Sr. was killed by officer's handgun.

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