Paul Garofalo

Wichita Police Department — Wichita, KS

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch November 8, 1980

Age 24

Tour of Duty 1 yrs 5 mo

The Vigil Panel 123 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 23

Incident

Police Officer Paul Garofalo was shot and killed when he stopped to question two women in the street. As he did so a man emerged and fired a shotgun through the driver's window of the patrol car, killing Officer Garofalo. The 30-year-old suspect was tried three times and each time was convicted of first-degree murder. He was sentenced to life. On December 26th, 1999, he died in prison of liver cancer. Officer Garofalo was a U.S. Army veteran and had served with the Wichita Police Department for 17 months.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KS-1EB6D6DD
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 Paul. 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Police Officer Garofalo gave the Wichita Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Wichita community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Wichita Police Department

Location Wichita, KS

Platform Identity wpd.sedgwick.ks.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 8, 1980

Tour of Duty 1 yrs 5 mo

Age 24

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun

Offender Died in prison

Military Service

Paul Garofalo served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Police Officer Paul Garofalo 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

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