Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Cleo Chrest was killed in an automobile accident while he and his partner responded to a call. Another vehicle crossed over the center line and struck their patrol car and killing Officer Chrest. Officer Chrest was a United States Navy Reserve veteran and served with the Manhattan Police Department for three years. He is survived by his wife, son, daughter, parents, three brothers, and two sisters. He is buried at the Louisville Cemetery in Louisville, Pottawatomie County, Kansas,
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, son, daughter, parents, three brothers, and two sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KS-4BA5370C- 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.
Police Officer Chrest gave the Manhattan Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Manhattan community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Cleo Chrest served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Police Officer Cleo Chrest is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In KS, 66 of 335 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 19.7% of this state's fallen. That is 11.3 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Manhattan Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Cleo Chrest's cause is highlighted.
How Cleo Chrest Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Cleo Chrest is highlighted in Jan.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Manhattan Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
