Detective

Rudolph Markl

Kansas City Police Department — Kansas City, KS
Felonious
End of Watch December 20, 1924
Tour of Duty 31 yrs
The Vigil Panel 48 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Rudy Markl was shot and killed while he and his partner investigated a robbery. They observed a man sitting in a car parked in front of a pharmacy. When they the approached the vehicle the man exited and fled, with Detective Markl's partner in pursuit. Detective Markl then entered the pharmacy where he encountered three additional suspects who opened fire, mortally wounding him. All four men were apprehended and charged with Detective Markl's murder. Two were convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life. They were denied parole in 1937 and 1939. The other two were acquitted.

Survivors

Detective Markl was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtpk5da80zaxsjn1xbbry
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Rudolph. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

31 years. You could have gone home.
Detective Markl gave the Kansas City Police Department 31 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Kansas City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Markl.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Kansas City, Wyandotte County, KS
Platform Identity kpd.wyandotte.ks.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 20, 1924
Tour of Duty 31 yrs
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Rudolph 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
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1924, 225 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 4th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Rudolph had served 31 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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. 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 20 officers remembered here, Rudolph among them.

Detective Rudolph Markl

Kansas City Police Department · End of Watch December 20, 1924

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 6-W

↑