John H. Nafziger
Agency patch
Special Agent

John H. Nafziger

Accident
End of Watch January 30, 1940
Age 57
Tour of Duty 16 yrs
The Vigil Panel 76 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Special Agent John Nafziger was struck and killed by a train in the Santa Fe railroad yards in downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

He told another officer that he was going to check on a train that was expected to arrived at 12:20 am. At about 2:20 am a switch engine foreman found his body on the tracks near the Grand Avenue crossing (modern-day E. Sheridan Avenue).

Special Agent Nafziger had served with the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department for 16 years. He was a widower.

In Our Keeping

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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.
Special Agent Nafziger gave the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the Topeka community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Nafziger.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Topeka, Shawnee County, KS
Platform Identity atsfrpd.rr.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 30, 1940
Tour of Duty 16 yrs
Age 57
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

John is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% 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 1940, 67 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 59th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 57. 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. John had served 16 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 7.7% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Tuesdays: 14.1%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department has 32 officers remembered here, John among them.

VI

Where

Special Agent John H. Nafziger

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department · End of Watch January 30, 1940

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 29-E

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