Officer Dennis Whalen was shot by suspects after resonding to a stolen property call.

Sergeant Dennis J. Whalen was shot by a bandit at 1519 East 18th Street December 31, 1923. Sgt. Dennis Whalen was sent on a stolen property call to a pawnshop on East 18th Street, on New Year's Eve, 1923. Two men began fighting with him. Sgt Whalen was shot before he could draw his weapon with the bullet lodging in his spine, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. He died from his injuries the next day.

Sergeant Whalen joined the police department in 1889, and had served as a beat patrolman, a special guard, and an executive officer. On April 30, 1913, he was responsible for the capture of the two men who had just mortally wounded Officer Andrew Lynch. After hearing the shooting from the suspects' battle with Officer Lynch, Officer Whalen laid in wait when he heard the suspects making their way up a nearby alley and confronted them. One of the suspects pointed his pistol to Officer Whalen's face and pulled the trigger only to have the cartridge misfire. Officer Whalen then took the men into custody. Officer Lynch died from his injuries several days later.

Sergeant Whalen, born in Ireland, served on the Kansas City Police Department for 34 years. He was survived by his wife, Annie and two daughters. Interred: Mount St. Mary's Cemetery.

Article by Brent Marchant