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Dennis J. Whalen
Agency patch
Patrolman

Dennis J. Whalen

Kansas City Police Department — Kansas City, MO
Felonious
United States flag Missouri flag
End of Watch January 1, 1924
Age 57
Tour of Duty 34 yrs
The Vigil Panel 46 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 119

Incident

Patrolman Dennis Whalen was shot and killed while questioning two men in a pawnshop at 1519 East 18th Street. The men had entered and attempted to pawn a watch but refused the amount offered. Patrolman Whalen, who was in the store, asked to see the watch. A struggle ensued and one of the men shot him. He was taken to a local hospital where he died the following day. Before he died a suspect, 21, was taken to his bedside and he identified him as the gunman. The suspect, charged with first degree murder, said he was no where near the pawnshop and had a credible alibi. He was released and the charge was dropped. On April 30, 1912, Patrolman Waylen then a sergeant, single-handed, captured two men who had shot and killed Patrolman Andrew Lynch minutes earlier. Patrolman Whalen had served with the Kansas City Police Department for 34 years and had been reappointed as a patrolman after retiring as a captain.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two daughters, and three brothers.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

34 years. You could have gone home.
Patrolman Whalen gave the Kansas City Police Department 34 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Kansas City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Whalen.

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

Agency

Department Kansas City Police Department
Type Police Department
Location Kansas City, Cass County, MO
Platform Identity kcpd.jackson.mo.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 1, 1924
Tour of Duty 34 yrs
Age 57
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Dennis is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  3. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1924, 225 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 4th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Dennis was 57. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Dennis had served 34 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Kansas City Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Dennis among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Dennis J. Whalen

Kansas City Police Department · End of Watch January 1, 1924

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 49-W

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