Police Officer Russell D. Mestdagh

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

The incident occurred at approximately 3:30 pm when 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. 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 served in the US Army in Viet Nam prior to joining the Kansas City Police Department.

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.