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Incident
Officer Dan De Kraai was accidentally shot and killed during a break while participating in weapons training for the agency's Special Response Team at the Neely School.
Officer De Kraai and other officers were participating in training scenarios using Simunitions. During a break, Officer De Kraai and another officer replaced the Simunitions weapons with their service weapons before going to a nearby convenience store.
When they returned to the training area, Officer De Kraai asked the other officer to shoot him with a Simunition round so he could experience how it felt. Forgetting that he had transitioned back to his service weapon, the other officer fired a single live round, fatally striking Officer De Kraai in the back.
Officer De Kraai was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wound.
Officer De Kraai had served with the St. Joseph Police Department for six years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and young daughter.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- 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.
Officer De Kraai gave the St. Joseph Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the St. Joseph community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer De Kraai.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
St. Joseph Police Department has lost 13 officers; 5 of them lost to accidents.
Dan is one of 242 officers lost to accidents in MO, 29.2% of the 829 remembered there.
Dan is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Dan is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2010, 1 officer at St. Joseph Police Department was lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 2010, 4 officers in MO were lost to accidents, the 7th heaviest of 112 years on record. The heaviest was 1923, with 8.
In 2010, 71 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 44th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 2010, 79 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 60th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Dan was 35. Of the 5 lost to accidents at St. Joseph Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 39 and 54; the middle age was 45. Dan had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Dan was 35. Of the 226 lost to accidents in MO whose age is recorded, half were between 26 and 42; the middle age was 33. Dan had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Dan was 35. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Dan had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Dan was 35. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Dan had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
September holds 60% of these deaths at St. Joseph Police Department, more than any other month. Wednesdays: 20%.
September holds 9.9% of these deaths in MO; August holds the most, 12.8%. Wednesdays: 17.4%.
September holds 9.2% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Wednesdays: 14.5%.
September holds 9.1% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Wednesdays: 14.5%.
How
Accident deaths account for 38.5% of all 13 deaths at St. Joseph Police Department, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.2% of all 829 deaths in MO, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
St. Joseph Police Department has 13 officers remembered here, Dan among them.
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James H. Killion Jun 14, 1917
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Charles Hensley May 14, 1919
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Albert Marsh Hall
Oct 26, 1921
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Thomas A. Johnson
Oct 27, 1921
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John H. House
Jul 28, 1922
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John F. Less
Oct 22, 1923
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Walter A. Wood
Apr 4, 1926
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Sherman Brooks Winder
Sep 13, 1940
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Alva N. Mead
Mar 18, 1944
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Aloysius L. Wisniewski
Sep 16, 1961
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John William Duty
Sep 15, 1991
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Bradley Thomas Arn
Nov 10, 1998
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Dan D. De Kraai
Sep 15, 2010
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 32-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
12 officers from St. Joseph Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
