Richard James Asten
Sergeant

Richard James Asten

Kansas City Police Department — Kansas City, KS
Felonious
End of Watch June 11, 1998
Age 46
Tour of Duty 14 yrs
Badge 1508
The Vigil Panel 145 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sergeant Richard Asten was killed after being intentionally struck by a stolen vehicle on 98th Street near the entrance to the Wyandotte County Fairgrounds. He was attempting to deploy stop sticks in the street when the driver of a Chevrolet Blazer intentionally turned and struck him, throwing him 250 feet down the street. The driver then crashed while attempting to make a turn after striking Sergeant Asten. He was arrested at the scene. The 26-year-old man, wanted for burglary, was convicted of Sergeant Asten's murder and was sentenced to 38 years in prison without the possibility of parole. His release date is September 16, 2033, but could be extended due to his terrible disciplinary record. Sergeant Asten had served with the Kansas City Police Department for 14 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, two daughters, two stepsons, and a stepdaughter.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sergeant Asten gave the Kansas City Police Department 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the Kansas City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Asten.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Kansas City, Wyandotte County, KS
Platform Identity kpd.wyandotte.ks.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 11, 1998
Tour of Duty 14 yrs
Age 46
Badge Number 1508
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Automobile

The Sacrifice · Felonious

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

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1998, 78 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 89th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Richard was 46. 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. Richard had served 14 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

June holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

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 automobile, in 4.9% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Kansas City Police Department has 20 officers remembered here, Richard among them.

VI

Where

Sergeant Richard James Asten

Kansas City Police Department · End of Watch June 11, 1998

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 56-W

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