Roll of Honor

Prev Next

Captain

Robert David Melton

Kansas City Police Department — Kansas City, KS

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch July 19, 2016

Age 46

Tour of Duty 26 yrs

Badge 1799

The Vigil Panel 166 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 19

Incident

Captain Dave Melton was shot and killed while searching for an armed subject who had fled from other officers who had responded to a shots fired call at approximately 2:00 pm.

As officers arrived on the scene, several subjects exited the vehicle they were in and fled on foot. One of the men was apprehended immediately. Officers began searching the area for the other subjects. Captain Melton was fatally shot when he encountered one of the men near the intersection of 22nd Street and Haskell Avenue.

Two subjects were taken into custody. The suspect pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, aggravated assault, and criminal discharge of a firearm. He received life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years. The 2nd suspect pleaded guilty to aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer and criminal discharge of a firearm and was sentenced to 21 months in prison. The 2nd suspect had already been taken into custody when Captain Melton had been shot.

Captain Melton was a Kansas National Guard veteran who served with the Kansas City Police Department for 17 years and had previously served with the Wyandotte County Sheriff's Office for nine years.

Survivors

He is survived by his three children and expectant girlfriend.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KS-70B885F5
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Robert. Claim this record.

Also honored at salute.nw. One record, 2 gates. Robert is one person.

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.
Captain Melton gave the Kansas City Police Department 26 years.
Thank you for your service to the Kansas City community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Kansas City Police Department

Type Other

Location Kansas City, Wyandotte County, KS

Platform Identity kpd.wyandotte.ks.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 19, 2016

Tour of Duty 26 yrs

Age 46

Badge Number 1799

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Military Service

Robert David Melton served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Captain Robert David Melton 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 97,759 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 Kansas City Police Department, 16 of 20 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80% of this agency's fallen.

Kansas City Police Department

of 20 officers

80% Felonious

KS — Statewide

237

of 335 officers

70.7% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious