Stephen O. Flanagan
Agency patch
Patrolman

Stephen O. Flanagan

Kansas City Police Department — Kansas City, MO
Felonious
End of Watch May 16, 1903
Age 39
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
The Vigil Panel 18 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Stephen Flanagan was shot and killed by a known robber and swindler who had been in the neighborhood of West 14th for several days, and had been annoying the women and children in the area. The suspect had been staying with a family a 502 West 14th Street, but was asked to leave. The suspect refused the leave. Patrolman Flanagan was investigating the complaints when he noticed the suspect standing in front of 502 West 14th Street. The suspect went inside the building, and Patrolman Flanagan followed him. As Patrolman Flanagan entered, with the intention of placing Spencer under arrest, he was shot. The two men then fired at each other, until both were fatally wounded. Patrolman Flanagan had served with the Kansas City Police Department for three years.

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.
Patrolman Flanagan gave the Kansas City Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Kansas City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Flanagan.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Kansas City, Cass County, MO
Platform Identity kcpd.jackson.mo.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 16, 1903
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Age 39
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Stephen is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 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 1903, 103 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 50th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Stephen was 39. 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. Stephen had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

May holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.

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 gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Kansas City Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Stephen among them.

Across the years

Patrolman Stephen O. Flanagan

Kansas City Police Department · End of Watch May 16, 1903

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 40-W

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