S. A. Hartzell

Wichita Police Department — Wichita, KS

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch December 14, 1888

Age 36

Tour of Duty 8 mo

The Vigil Panel 9 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 23

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: 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.
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

Department Wichita Police Department

Location Wichita, KS

Platform Identity wpd.sedgwick.ks.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 14, 1888

Tour of Duty 8 mo

Age 36

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Military Service

S. A. Hartzell served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Patrolman S. A. Hartzell 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 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.

Wichita Police Department

of 24 officers

62.5% Felonious

KS — Statewide

237

of 335 officers

70.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious