Sergeant Michael King
University City Police Department
Missouri
End of Watch: Friday, October 31, 2008

Biographical Info
Age:50
Tour of Duty: 25 years
Badge Number: 17

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Sergeant Michael King was shot and killed as he sat in his patrol car at the intersection of Leland Avenue and Delmar Boulevard. A known criminal approached his vehicle on foot and opened fire without warning, fatally wounding Sergeant King.

The suspect fled the scene in a vehicle but was later apprehended.

Sergeant King had served with the agency for 25 years. He is survived by his wife.

Police Officer Steven Lee Sheldon
St Louis Police Department
Missouri
End of Watch: Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Biographical Info
Age: 54
Tour of Duty:
Badge Number:

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Officer Steve Sheldon was shot in 1985 injuring his spinal cord and leaving him permanently paralyzed. He endured many years of health complications from the injury including serious spikes in blood pressure from the paralysis. Complications from the injury finally took their toll on the 54-year-old's brain, leaving him in a coma doctors feared would leave him in a vegetative state. The family agreed to disconnect life support and Steve died on October 7, 2008.

Police Officer Jeff Kowalski
St Louis Police Department
Missouri
End of Watch: Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Biographical Info
Age: 51
Tour of Duty:
Badge Number:

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Officer Jeff Kowalski died October 1, 2008 at his home in Texas. Jeff was shot in February 1987 while chasing two men. One of the men shot him with a pistol striking him in the abdomen. Officer Kowalski was 29 at the time and was hospitalized for two months. He suffered serious injuries to his pancreas, liver and stomach. The bullet also hit his inferior vena cava, the vein that carries deoxygenated blood from the lower part of the body to his heart. Doctors reconnected his stomach and intestines.

He was able to return to work many months later but continued to suffer the effects of the devastating injuries. He eventually retired but continued to have serious health complications from the wound and eventually developed cancer in the pancreas. An oncologist said early in 2008 that Jeff’s cancer developed in the areas where he was shot and seemed to follow the path of the bullet. There was no family history or other risk factors for pancreatic cancer present.

Police Officer Grant Jansen
St Charles Police Department
Missouri
End of Watch: Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Biographical Info
Age:42
Tour of Duty: 20 years
Badge Number: 202

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Automobile accident

Officer Grant Jansen was killed in a single vehicle crash on Spencer Road. His patrol car left the roadway and Officer Jansen was ejected from the vehicle. His K9 partner was not injured.

Officer Jansen had served in law enforcement for 20 years. He is survived by his wife, son, and daughter.

Police Officer Thomas Frederick Ballman
Kirkwood Police Department
Missouri
End of Watch: Thursday, February 7, 2008

Biographical Info
Age: 37
Tour of Duty: 11 years
Badge Number: 282

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Officer Thomas Ballman and Sergeant William Biggs were shot and killed when a suspect opened fire at a Kirkwood city council meeting. The man had held a grudge against the city council for several years and had filed several lawsuits against the city.

The suspect approached Sergeant Biggs across the street from the city hall and asked him what time the meeting started, then pulled out a handgun and fatally shot him in the head. The man then took Sergeant Biggs' service weapon and walked across the street into the city hall.

When he entered the council chambers, he approached Officer Ballman, who was sitting in the front of the room, and also fatally shot him in the head. The man then opened fire on the other occupants of the room, killing two council members and the director of public works before being shot and killed by two other officers.

Officer Ballman had served with the Kirkwood Police Department for 9 years and had previously served with the St. Charles County Sheriff's Office for 2 years. He is survived by his wife and two children.

Sergeant William King Biggs Jr.
Kirkwood Police Department
Missouri
End of Watch: Thursday, February 7, 2008

Biographical Info
Age: 50
Tour of Duty: 20 years
Badge Number: 217

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Sergeant William Biggs and Officer Thomas Ballman were shot and killed when a suspect opened fire at a Kirkwood city council meeting. The man had held a grudge against the city council for several years and had filed several lawsuits against the city.

The suspect approached Sergeant Biggs across the street from the city hall and asked him what time the meeting started, then pulled out a handgun and fatally shot him in the head. The man then took Sergeant Biggs' service weapon and walked across the street into the city hall.

When he entered the council chambers, he approached Officer Ballman, who was sitting in the front of the room, and also fatally shot him in the head. The man then opened fire on the other occupants of the room, killing two council members and the director of public works before being shot and killed by two other officers.

Sergeant Biggs had served with the Kirkwood Police Department for 20 years. He is survived by his wife and two sons.