Vernon M. Seals
Agency patch
Police Officer

Vernon M. Seals

Truesdale Police Department — Truesdale, MO
Felonious
End of Watch October 6, 2002
Age 35
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
The Vigil Panel 150 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Vernon Seals was struck and killed by a vehicle that was being chased by other officers on I-70 at 3:30 pm.

The two occupants had committed a home invasion robbery in Fulton, Missouri, earlier in the day and fled after being stopped by a state trooper. The suspect lost control of his vehicle while trying to pass a patrol car, causing the vehicle to overturn. The car struck Officer Seals, who was positioned next to his patrol car on the eastbound shoulder. Officer Seals was transported to St. Joseph Hospital West where he succumbed to his injuries.

The driver of the vehicle was also killed in the crash, and the passenger was taken into custody. He was later sentenced to 20 years in prison for his part in Officer Seals' death.

Officer Seals had served as a part-time officer for the 280-person town for 12 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and 2-year-old son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-305963F3
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.
Police Officer Seals gave the Truesdale Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Truesdale community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Seals.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Truesdale, Warren County, MO
Platform Identity tpd.warren.mo.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 6, 2002
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
Age 35
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Vehicular assault
Weapon Automobile

Police Officer Vernon M. Seals 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 MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 63.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

Truesdale Police Department
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
MO — Statewide
516
of 813 officers
63.5% 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. Vernon M. Seals's cause is highlighted.

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

How Vernon M. Seals Compares

Age at Death
35
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
12
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Vernon M. Seals is highlighted in Oct.

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. Vernon M. Seals was killed by automobile.

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

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from Truesdale Police Department are honored on badge.nw.