William H. Scobee
Agency patch
Patrolman

William H. Scobee

Kansas City Police Department — Kansas City, MO
Felonious
End of Watch May 9, 1920
Age 47
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
The Vigil Panel 38 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Scobee was shot and killed while investigating a suspicious man in a vehicle in front of 800 East 14th Street. While Patrolman Scobee was questioning the suspect, three men snuck up and shot him in the back. It was later learned that the three suspects had just attacked a young girl and robbed her when they broke into her home. All three suspects were arrested and charged with murder and robbery. At trial the judge stated that just because three men murdered Patrolman Scobee after three men robbed and attacked the girl at about the same time and near where Patrolman Scobee was killed did not prove they were the same men. Because additional evidence was questionable he dismissed the charges. At their trial involving the girl she stated she could not understand why the men were in her home but she was not robbed or attacked. Those charges were dismissed also. The murder case remains unsolved.

Survivors

Patrolman Scobee had five years of law enforcement experience and was survived by his wife and daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-AB8AA244
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 Scobee gave the Kansas City Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Kansas City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Scobee.

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

Agency

Location Kansas City, MO
Platform Identity kcpd.jackson.mo.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 9, 1920
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Age 47
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender At large

Patrolman William H. Scobee 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.

Kansas City Police Department
72
of 120 officers
60% Felonious
MO — Statewide
516
of 813 officers
63.5% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William H. Scobee's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How William H. Scobee Compares

Age at End of Watch
47
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
5
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

At large

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William H. Scobee is highlighted in May.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William H. Scobee was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518