Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Joseph Keenan drowned while attempting to rescue three men during a period of severe flooding of the Missouri River. He was in a boat taking the men to safe ground when it capsized, throwing everyone into the water at Santa Fe and West Ninth Street at 12:45 pm. When Patrolman Keenan fell into the water, he struck his head on a telegraph pole. The other three men were rescued, but Patrolman Keenan drowned. Patrolman Keenan had served with the Kansas City Police Department for three years. He was survived by his mother, sister, and three brothers. One of his brothers also served with the Kansas City Police Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his mother, sister, and three brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-7A1A9E4E- 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.
Patrolman Keenan gave the Kansas City Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Kansas City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Keenan.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Joseph P. Keenan is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In MO, 237 of 813 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 29.2% of this state's fallen. That is 1.8 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Kansas City Police Department, 47 of 120 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 39.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph P. Keenan's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph P. Keenan Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph P. Keenan is highlighted in Jun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
119 officers from Kansas City Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
