Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Robert Kunze was shot and killed while investigating a suspicious person call in a rural area near the intersection of North 295th Street West and West 21st Street North.
He arrived at the scene and made contact with a male subject in a stolen vehicle. During the encounter he and the subject exchanged shots and both were fatally shot. Deputy Kunze's backup officer arrived at the scene and located Deputy Kunze suffering from a gunshot wound.
Deputy Kunze had served with the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office for 12 years and had previously served with the Shawnee County Sheriff's Office for six years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and child.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KS-A65B344A- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Kunze gave the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Wichita community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Kunze.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Robert Kenneth Kunze, III 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 Sedgwick County Sheriff's Dept., 10 of 10 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. Robert Kenneth Kunze, III's cause is highlighted.
How Robert Kenneth Kunze, III Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert Kenneth Kunze, III is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert Kenneth Kunze, III was killed by handgun; .40 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
9 officers from Sedgwick County Sheriff's Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
