Roll of Honor
Incident
Policeman Ottis Durkee was shot and killed by a group of prison escapees when he caught them attempting to steal a tire for their getaway car at 1:30 am.
A total of eleven convicts escaped from the state penitentiary and broke into two groups. It is believed that Policeman Durkee was shot and killed when he discovered one of the groups in an auto store.
Policeman Durkee was a United States Army WWI veteran and a Justice of the Peace.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children, his mother, four sisters, and a brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KS-978379B9- 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.
Night Policeman Durkee served with the Chetopa Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Chetopa 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Ottis Laduke Durkee served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Night Policeman Ottis Laduke Durkee 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 Chetopa Police Department, 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. Ottis Laduke Durkee's cause is highlighted.
How Ottis Laduke Durkee Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ottis Laduke Durkee is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Chetopa Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
