KCPD Memorial Lest We Forget
Honoring the Fallen
Officer
William T. Cavanaugh
Kansas City, MO Police Dept
EOW: Wednesday, April 8, 1936
Date of incident: April 7, 1936
Age: 31
DOB: March 13, 1905
Tour of Duty: 19 years
Cause: Gunfire
Suspect: Apprehended, executed

On April 7, 1936, Officer William T. Cavanaugh, 32, was off-duty, sitting in the Irish Tavern at 921 East 21st Street with his fiancee, when a man entered and attempted a hold-up. Cavanaugh - in street clothes - fired on the robber, who returned fire. The robber fled the tavern, and Cavanaugh pursued him. Cavanaugh was shot several times - including the wrist of his gun hand and in his chest - but still managed to wound the robber before he got away. The suspect also struck Officer Cavanaugh in the head with his gun during the battle. Cavanaugh died at General Hospital on April 8, 1936. A $200 reward was issued for the capture of his killer. Interred: Calvary Cemetery.

The killer, John Brown, entered a drug store in Council Grove, Kansas where he attempted to obtain drugs to treat his wounds on April 11, 1936, the day of Cavanaugh's funeral. Morris County Sheriff Knott was in the drug store and pursed Brown as he fled the store for approximately one mile before Brown was apprehended., was tried for the murder of Officer Cavanaugh and sentenced to hang. Brown was executed on March 3, 1938.

Article by Brent Marchant

Kansas City Police Memorial