Roll of Honor

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Special Policeman

Michael Meagher

Caldwell Police Department — Caldwell, KS

Felonious

End of Watch December 17, 1881

Age 37

The Vigil Panel 7 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 2

Incident

Special Policeman Michael Meagher was shot and killed in a gun battle with five cowboys who were on a crime spree. The men had threatened Meagher, the former city marshal. Policeman Meagher then went to the current marshal and was appointed a special policeman. When Policeman Meagher and the marshal attempted to arrest the suspects he was shot and killed. The suspect who killed Special Policeman Meagher, who was arrested 13 years later, was tried and acquitted.

Survivors

Special Policeman Meagher was survived by his wife and six children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KS-77271DB1
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

145 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Special Policeman Meagher served with the Caldwell Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Caldwell community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Caldwell Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Caldwell, Sumner County, KS

Platform Identity cpd.sumner.ks.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 17, 1881

Age 37

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

Special Policeman Michael Meagher is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,587 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 16.8 percentage points above the national rate of 53.9%.

At Caldwell Police Department, 3 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Caldwell Police Department

of 3 officers

100% Felonious

KS — Statewide

237

of 335 officers

70.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,559

of 32,587 officers

53.9% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Michael Meagher's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,559 (53.9%)

Accident

10,095 (31%)

Illness

3,037 (9.3%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

334 (1%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

How Michael Meagher Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Michael Meagher is highlighted in Dec.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,516

May

1,504

Jun

1,442

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,517

Sep

1,491

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Michael Meagher was killed by gun.

Handgun

3,684

Gun

3,592

Gun; Unknown type

1,492

Shotgun

1,109

Rifle

935

Officer's handgun

909

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from Caldwell Police Department are honored on badge.nw.