Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Lanahan was shot and killed after being setup following his recent election victory over the incumbent, the notorious Wild Bill Hickok. Several local outlaws staged a fight at a local saloon and when Sheriff Lanahan entered they shot him twice.
One of the suspects was shot and killed by Sheriff Lanahan. Sheriff Lanahan was buried in Boot Hill Cemetery, Hayes City, Kansas.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KS-563E017C- 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
155 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Sheriff Lanahan served with the Ellis County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Hays community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Peter R. Lanahan 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 Ellis County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Peter R. Lanahan's cause is highlighted.
How Peter R. Lanahan Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Peter R. Lanahan is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Ellis County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
