David Scott Gogian
Agency patch
Corporal

David Scott Gogian

Topeka Police Department — Topeka, KS
Felonious Veteran →
End of Watch December 16, 2012
Age 50
Tour of Duty 8 yrs 3 mo
Badge 408
The Vigil Panel 162 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Corporal David Gogian and Police Officer Jeff Atherly were shot and killed while checking on a suspicious vehicle in a grocery store parking lot, at 1400 SW Huntoon Street, shortly after 6:00 pm.

Several minutes after making contact with the multiple subjects in the vehicle one them opened fire, fatally wounding Officer Atherly and Corporal Gogian. A third officer on the scene was not wounded. The subject who opened fire fled in the vehicle. He was located in a home on SW Western where he barricaded himself for several hours. He was eventually shot and killed after exiting the home while carrying a firearm.

Corproal Gogian was a U.S. military veteran and had served with the Topeka Police Department for eight years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-KS-1BE358A9
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 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.
Corporal Gogian gave the Topeka Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Topeka 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

Location Topeka, KS
Platform Identity tpd.shawnee.ks.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 16, 2012
Tour of Duty 8 yrs 3 mo
Age 50
Badge Number 408
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun
Offender Shot and killed

Military Service

David Scott Gogian served in the Air Force (2003–2003) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Corporal David Scott Gogian 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%.

At Topeka Police Department, 6 of 10 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.

Topeka Police Department
6
of 10 officers
60% 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. David Scott Gogian'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 David Scott Gogian Compares

Age at End of Watch
50
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
8.2
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. David Scott Gogian is highlighted in Dec.

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. David Scott Gogian was killed by handgun.

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

Incident Location