Roll of Honor

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Officer

Gordon Brewster Bartel

Kodiak Police Department — Kodiak, AK

Felonious

End of Watch January 15, 1983

Age 29

Tour of Duty 6 yrs 6 mo

Badge 11

The Vigil Panel 126 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Officer Gordon Bartel was shot and killed while issuing a citation to a man for camping within the city limits. Officer Bartel had previously warned the man about violating the city ordinance and camping in the harbor parking lot. The suspect was found guilty of murder and sentenced to 99 years. Officer Bartel had served with the Kodiak Police Department for 1 1/2 years and previously served with the Webberville (Michigan) Police Department as the chief of police for five years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AK-23A74262
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.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Bartel gave the Kodiak Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Kodiak community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Bartel.

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

Agency

Department Kodiak Police Department

Location Kodiak, AK

Platform Identity kpd.kodiakisland.ak.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 15, 1983

Tour of Duty 6 yrs 6 mo

Age 29

Badge Number 11

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .22 caliber

Offender Sentenced to 99 years

Officer Gordon Brewster Bartel 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 AK, 35 of 50 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70% of this state's fallen. That is 15.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Kodiak Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

AK — Statewide

of 50 officers

70% 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. Gordon Brewster Bartel'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 Gordon Brewster Bartel Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

6.5

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to 99 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Gordon Brewster Bartel is highlighted in Jan.

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. Gordon Brewster Bartel was killed by handgun; .22 caliber.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518