John Richard Bullard, Jr.

Independence Police Department — Independence, MO

Illness

End of Watch August 11, 2021

Age 64

Tour of Duty 46 yrs

The Vigil Panel 176 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 7

Incident

Reserve Sergeant John Bullard died from complications as a result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty.

Sergeant Bullard had served with the Independence Police Department for 46 years.

COVID-19 and Law Enforcement

Reserve Sergeant John Richard Bullard, Jr. died on August 11, 2021 of COVID-19 contracted in the line of duty. He was 64.

He is one of 884 officers honored here.

Beginning in early 2020, law enforcement officers across the country contracted COVID-19 in the course of their duties. While much of the nation sheltered at home, they kept answering calls, making arrests, transporting prisoners, and working face to face with the public. There was no distance to be had from the job.

Corrections officers were hit hardest. Confined facilities and large populations meant constant, close, unavoidable exposure.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, parents, a daughter, a son, two step-daughters, and ten grandchildren.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MO-2D8D1850
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

The country locked its doors. You kept working.
Reserve Sergeant Bullard gave the Independence Police Department 46 years.
Thank you for your service to the Independence community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Reserve Sergeant Bullard.

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

Agency

Department Independence Police Department

Location Independence, MO

Platform Identity ipd.jackson.mo.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 11, 2021

Tour of Duty 46 yrs

Age 64

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Illness

Reserve Sergeant John Richard Bullard, Jr. is one of 2,974 officers lost to illness connected to their service across the full record of this memorial — 9.1% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In MO, 26 of 813 officers were lost to illness connected to their service — 3.2% of this state's fallen. That is 5.9 percentage points below the national rate of 9.1%.

At Independence Police Department, 1 of 8 officers on record were lost to illness connected to their service — 12.5% of this agency's fallen.

Independence Police Department

of 8 officers

12.5% Illness

MO — Statewide

of 813 officers

3.2% Illness

Nationwide

2,974

of 32,508 officers

9.1% Illness