Officer Russell Mestdagh was shot by a robbery suspect after responding to a holdup alarm at a pharmacy.

On January 2, 1975 at approximately 3:30 pm, Officer Mestdagh and his partner responded to a hold-up alarm at Traxler Pharmacy, 651 E. 59th. Officer Mestdagh entered the pharmacy and was directed to the rear of the store by an employee. Officer Mestdagh struggled with three suspects in a back room of the pharmacy and was shot four times, twice in the right arm, once in the left leg and once in the side. The suspects then fled from the pharmacy. Officer Mestdagh was pronounced dead on arrival at Menorah Medical Center.

One suspect, John Francis, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for murder and forty years for the robbery. A second suspect, Eugene Minor, was convicted and sentenced to life for murder and fifty years for robbery.

Officer Mestdagh was posthumously awarded the Medal of Valor. He had served with the KCPD for 3 years and previously served in the US Army in Viet Nam. Officer Mestdagh was survived by a son. Officer Mestdagh's death inspired the Kansas City Rotary club to establish a fund to purchase bullet resistant vests for KCPD officers and for Chief Joseph McNamara to ask the Missouri General Assembly to reinstate the death penalty for those who kill police officers. Interred: Floral Hills Cemetery.

Article by Brent Marchant