KCPD Memorial Lest We Forget
Honoring the Fallen
Officer
Harry J. Keating
Kansas City, MO Police Dept
EOW: Monday, Mar 18, 1917
Age: 31
DOB: 1885, Ireland
Tour:
Cause: Gunfire
Suspect: Prosecuted, discharged

Officer Harry Keating was shot and mortally wounded by a private detective while attmepting to make an arrest.

On March 18, 1917, Officer Harry J. Keating - out of uniform - was waiting at the corner of 9th and Main Streets for a street car when he saw a man he wanted to arrest. Witness accounts reported that the suspect had initially resisted and Officer Keating had struck him in the head with his pistol causing the weapon to discharge and forced him to his knees. Leahy drew his gun and advanced, believing that the plain clothes officer was a robbery suspect, and demanded that Officer Keating drop his weapon. Officer Keating turned to face Leahy, and Leahy, believing that he would be shot, fired on Officer Keating wounding him in the head. Officer Keating was pronounced dead at General Hospital. The prisoner escaped. Leahy was out of uniform at the time, and the two men did not know each other.

Pinkerton Officer William Leahy was arrested and charged with second degree murder. Leahy was discharged after a preliminary trial showed Officer Keating and Leahy's mutual misidentification of the other as suspects precipitated the shooting.

Officer Keating, 30, was born in Ireland, emigrated to the United States in 1904. He was survived by his wife of two years, Josephine, and a daughter. Interred: Mount St. Mary's Cemetery.

Article by Brent Marchant

Kansas City Police Memorial