William Francis Langdon
Incident
Location: Colorado Weapon: Handgun Offender: Convicted of murder
Special Agent William Langdon was shot and killed after stopping four hobos in a railroad yard near the Old Pueblo Smelter in Pueblo, Colorado.
Two of the men were convicted of his murder.
Special Agent Langdon had served with the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad Police for 12 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
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.
Special Agent Langdon gave the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Topeka community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Langdon.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department has lost 32 officers; 24 of them killed feloniously.
William is one of 237 officers killed feloniously in KS, 70.7% of the 335 remembered there.
William is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
William is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 52% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1915, 2 officers at Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1915, 6 officers in KS were killed feloniously, the 5th heaviest of 112 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 8.
In 1915, 152 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 26th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1915, 157 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 29th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
William was 64. Of the 21 killed feloniously at Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 35 and 48; the middle age was 43. William had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 3 years.
William was 64. Of the 211 killed feloniously in KS whose age is recorded, half were between 34 and 49; the middle age was 42. William had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 4.5 years.
William was 64. 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. William had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
William was 64. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. William had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
December holds 12.5% of these deaths at Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department; August holds the most, 16.7%. Fridays: 20.8%.
December holds 8.9% of these deaths in KS; July holds the most, 11.4%. Fridays: 15.2%.
December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Fridays: 14.3%.
December holds 9.2% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Fridays: 14.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 75% of all 32 deaths at Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 58.3% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 70.7% of all 335 deaths in KS, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 22.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.9% of these deaths.
His people
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department has 32 officers remembered here, William among them.
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Charles Hale
Oct 7, 1874
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Joseph Lampkin Dec 8, 1891
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George C. Montgomery Oct 5, 1901
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C. S. Calhoun Jul 12, 1905
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Thomas Clay Warden
Mar 2, 1906
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Oscar G. Bodley
Aug 29, 1906
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Charles L. Stewart
Aug 13, 1908
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J. A. McClure Jan 25, 1911
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John P. Cates Jun 7, 1911
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Joseph M. Kroskey Feb 22, 1912
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George W. Greenstreet Jun 17, 1912
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George W. LaPorte Mar 21, 1914
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Thomas J. Sullivan Apr 5, 1915
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William Francis Langdon
Dec 10, 1915
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Charles A. Kieper
Mar 17, 1919
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Jack Chelton Harris
Jul 15, 1919
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L. Frank Cornelius
Jan 20, 1921
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Thomas McMillin Aug 29, 1921
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Charles Sherman Patterson Aug 29, 1921
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Roy E. Burton Jul 27, 1922
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Vernon L. Holzer Aug 21, 1923
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Louis McCamant Apr 25, 1924
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Edward Lee Bowler Jan 16, 1925
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Lewis H. Mickey Mar 20, 1925
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Roy W. Stewart Jan 9, 1926
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Earl Scothorn Nov 13, 1927
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James Edward Dunman
Oct 29, 1930
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Buford A. French Nov 11, 1932
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John H. Nafziger
Jan 30, 1940
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Harry Lloyd Ashley
Dec 19, 1947
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Jimmie Allen Barnett Apr 29, 1975
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James Robert Robison
Feb 10, 1986
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 30-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
31 officers from Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.




