Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Frank Hermanson was one of four law enforcement officers killed in an incident referred to as the Kansas City Massacre at the Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri. At 7:17 a.m., as officers placed an escaped convict into a car to transport him to Leavenworth, two men stepped out from behind a parked car and fired at officers. During the barrage of gunfire, a car containing a few men also shot at officers with machine guns as they passed the parked cars. Detective Hermanson was standing between two patrol cars with Detective Grooms when he was slain. Detective Hermanson had served with the Kansas City Police Department for 13 years. Survivors include his wife and son. On June 17, 1933, a group of men attempted to free inmate Frank Nash as he was being transported to Leavenworth. In the ensuing gun battle, Detective Frank Hermanson and Detective William Grooms, of the Kansas City Police Department, Chief of Police Otto Read, of the McAlester Police Department, Oklahoma, and Special Agent Raymond Caffrey, of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, were shot and killed. This ambush became known as the Kansas City Massacre. Please click here to read more about the Kansas City Massacre and the law enforcement officers killed.
Survivors
Survivors include his wife and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-4FF6657A- 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.
Detective Hermanson gave the Kansas City Police Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Kansas City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Hermanson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Frank E. Hermanson 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 MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 9.3 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Kansas City Police Department, 72 of 120 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Frank E. Hermanson's cause is highlighted.
How Frank E. Hermanson Compares
Offender Outcome
One executed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Frank E. Hermanson is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Frank E. Hermanson was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
119 officers from Kansas City Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
