William H. Scobee
Agency patch
Patrolman

William H. Scobee

Kansas City Police Department — Kansas City, MO
Felonious
End of Watch May 9, 1920
Age 47
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
The Vigil Panel 38 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Scobee was shot and killed while investigating a suspicious man in a vehicle in front of 800 East 14th Street. While Patrolman Scobee was questioning the suspect, three men snuck up and shot him in the back. It was later learned that the three suspects had just attacked a young girl and robbed her when they broke into her home. All three suspects were arrested and charged with murder and robbery. At trial the judge stated that just because three men murdered Patrolman Scobee after three men robbed and attacked the girl at about the same time and near where Patrolman Scobee was killed did not prove they were the same men. Because additional evidence was questionable he dismissed the charges. At their trial involving the girl she stated she could not understand why the men were in her home but she was not robbed or attacked. Those charges were dismissed also. The murder case remains unsolved.

Survivors

Patrolman Scobee had five years of law enforcement experience and was survived by his wife and daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
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 Scobee gave the Kansas City Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Kansas City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Scobee.

— 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 9, 1920
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Age 47
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 1920, 209 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 9th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 47. 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 5 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%. Sundays: 15.2%.

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, William among them.

Across the years

Patrolman William H. Scobee

Kansas City Police Department · End of Watch May 9, 1920

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 36-W

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