Special Officer

Joseph Lampkin

Felonious
End of Watch December 8, 1891
Age 37
The Vigil Panel 11 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Location: Colorado Weapon: Handgun Offender: Committed suicide

Special Officer Joseph Lampkin was shot and killed at the train depot in La Junta, Colorado, while attempting to arrest a mentally deranged man.

The suspect committed suicide after shooting Officer Lampkin.

Special Officer Lampkin was survived by his wife and three children.

Survivors

Special Officer Lampkin was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

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Tributes

135 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Special Officer Lampkin served with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Topeka community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

— 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 December 8, 1891
Age 37
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Joseph 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 1891, 62 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 121st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Joseph was 37. 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.

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

When

December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. 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 handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

VI

Where

Special Officer Joseph Lampkin

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department · End of Watch December 8, 1891

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 13-W

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