Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Bobbie Vest was killed in a single automobile crash while on patrol near Arkansas City. Deputy Vest was on a regular road patrol accompanied by his son. He was about nine miles east of Arkansas City, headed towards Dexter on U.S. Route 166 around 8:45 p.m., when he lost control of the patrol car. It went into the ditch and traveled about 200 feet before it turned over and stopped on its roof. Both men were brought to Memorial Hospital in Arkansas City. Deputy Vest died before morning, and his son recovered. Deputy Vest was a United States Army Air Forces WWII veteran and had served with the Cowley County Sheriff's Office for nine months.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KS-3C50D769- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Vest served with the Cowley County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Winfield 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Robert H. Vest Sr. served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Deputy Sheriff Robert H. Vest Sr. is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.
In KS, 66 of 335 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 19.7% of this state's fallen. That is 19.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Cowley County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 3 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert H. Vest Sr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Robert H. Vest Sr. Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Robert H. Vest Sr. is highlighted in Jan.
Incident Location
Military Service
Robert H. Vest Sr. served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Visit Robert H. Vest Sr.’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Cowley County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
