Sergeant

William Morris

Kansas City Police Department — Kansas City, KS
Felonious
End of Watch September 2, 1902
Age 54
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
The Vigil Panel 18 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sergeant William Morris was shot and killed when he interrupted a robbery in progress at the Metropolitan Street car barn. He encountered two men forcing the watchman to open a safe. Sergeant Morris struck one of the suspects but was shot as he attempted to draw his revolver. One of the suspects was found guilty of second-degree murder and sentenced to life. He was granted a new trial and acquitted on October 7, 1904. A year later he was charged with robbing a drug store. Sergeant Morris had served with the agency for 11 years. His son became a Kansas City police officer a few days after his murder.

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.
Sergeant Morris gave the Kansas City Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Kansas City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Morris.

— 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 September 2, 1902
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
Age 54
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

William 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 1902, 104 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 49th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 54. 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. William had served 11 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. 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 gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Kansas City Police Department has 20 officers remembered here, William among them.

Sergeant William Morris

Kansas City Police Department · End of Watch September 2, 1902

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 19-E

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