William Hogsett
Agency patch
Special Officer

William Hogsett

Oswego Police Department — Oswego, KS
Felonious
End of Watch October 3, 1874
Age 25
The Vigil Panel 5 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Hogsett was stabbed to death at the county fair while attempting to arrest a man. The suspect and another man had gotten into an altercation over a seat on a ride. When Officer Hogsett attempted to arrest one of the men the man pulled a pocket knife and stabbed Officer Hogsett and the other man to death. The man also stabbed and wounded another officer before being taken into custody. Fearing the citizens would lynch the suspect, he was taken to Fort Scott to be locked up. The suspect was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 17 years hard labor.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-KS-0085076E
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 William. 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

152 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Special Officer Hogsett served with the Oswego Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Oswego community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Location Oswego, KS
Platform Identity opd.labette.ks.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 3, 1874
Age 25
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Edged weapon; Knife
Offender Sentenced to 17 years

Special Officer William Hogsett 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%.

Oswego Police Department
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
KS — Statewide
237
of 335 officers
70.7% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Hogsett's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How William Hogsett Compares

Age at End of Watch
25
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to 17 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Hogsett is highlighted in Oct.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Hogsett was killed by edged weapon; knife.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518