Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman S.A. Hartzell was accidentally shot and killed by the owner of a store on Chicago Avenue (modern day Douglas Avenue).
He had gone to the store to trade his service revolver for a smaller gun that would fit in his pocket better. After Patrolman Hartzell placed cartridges in the gun, the owner asked to see it again to explain how the trigger worked. As he pulled the hammer back his thumb slipped, causing the gun to discharge. Patrolman Hartzell was struck in the abdomen and suffered a serious wound.
Patrolman Hartzell was taken to a store next door where a doctor was summonsed. He died the following day.
Patrolman Hartzell was a Union Army veteran of the Civil War and had served with the Wichita Police Department for only eight months.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and six children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KS-47A16CAA- 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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. S. is one person.
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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.
Patrolman Hartzell served with the Wichita Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Wichita 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
S. A. Hartzell served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Patrolman S. A. Hartzell 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 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. S. A. Hartzell's cause is highlighted.
How S. A. Hartzell Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. S. A. Hartzell is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Incident Location
Military Service
S. A. Hartzell served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Visit S. A. Hartzell’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
23 officers from Wichita Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
