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Incident
Detective Merle Colver was shot and killed while questioning two robbery suspects in their hotel room. As he began to search the hotel room he was shot by one of the men. The suspect was arrested within 24 hours and convicted of Detective Colver's murder. The murderer escaped from prison on May 30, 1933, but was shot and seriously wounded by a posse on December 30, 1933. He was returned to prison and died from his wounds on January 6, 1934. Detective Colver was survived by his wife. He was buried in Clearwater Cemetery, Clearwater, Sedgwick County, Kansas.
Survivors
Detective Colver was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
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- 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.
Detective Colver served with the Wichita Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Wichita community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Colver.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Wichita Police Department has lost 24 officers; 15 of them killed feloniously.
Merle is one of 237 officers killed feloniously in KS, 70.7% of the 335 remembered there.
Merle is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Merle is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1931, 1 officer at Wichita Police Department was killed feloniously, the 5th heaviest of 10 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 3.
In 1931, 4 officers in KS were killed feloniously, the 10th heaviest of 112 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 8.
In 1931, 221 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 5th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1931, 222 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 9th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Merle was 40. Of the 13 killed feloniously at Wichita Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 40; the middle age was 36.
Merle was 40. Of the 211 killed feloniously in KS whose age is recorded, half were between 34 and 49; the middle age was 42.
Merle was 40. 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.
Merle was 40. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
August holds 13.3% of these deaths at Wichita Police Department; November holds the most, 33.3%. Fridays: 40%.
August holds 11% of these deaths in KS; July holds the most, 11.4%. Fridays: 15.2%.
August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.
August holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Fridays: 14.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 62.5% of all 24 deaths at Wichita Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 60% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 70.7% of all 335 deaths in KS, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 32.9% 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 gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 20.4% of these deaths.
His people
Wichita Police Department has 24 officers remembered here, Merle among them.
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J. W. Kerwin Mar 23, 1888
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Henry Ebenhack Sep 24, 1888
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S. A. Hartzell
Dec 14, 1888
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William L. Humphries
Feb 23, 1915
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Frank W. Griswold
May 23, 1915
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William H. Ballard
Jul 20, 1920
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A. L. Young
Nov 5, 1921
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Robert Fitzpatrick
Nov 21, 1921
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Charles D. Hoffman
Nov 25, 1921
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Charles E. Galloway
Jul 15, 1923
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Robert C. Scudder
Nov 30, 1923
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Harrison R. Brown
Jan 5, 1925
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Edward W. Hall
Apr 10, 1925
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Vernon E. Ogden
Jun 26, 1927
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Joseph Earl Marshall
Aug 29, 1927
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Paul E. Gilmore
Jul 18, 1930
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James O. Pugh
Jul 31, 1930
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Merle Rankin Colver
Aug 14, 1931
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David A. Kenyon
Oct 26, 1962
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Paul Garofalo
Nov 8, 1980
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Danny Dean Laffey
Jan 5, 1982
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John Eugene Galvin
Nov 4, 2000
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Stephen Martin Oct 30, 2005
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Clay Morsell Germany
Jul 9, 2021
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 22-W
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