Police Officer Charles David Hartman, Lee's Summit Police Department, Missouri

Police Officer Charles David Hartman

Lee's Summit Police Department, Missouri

End of Watch Sunday, May 1, 1983

Charles David Hartman

Officer Charles Hartman drowned while attempting to rescue a man from the Little Blue River in Kansas City, Missouri. During the rescue attempt Officer Hartman, who was in scuba gear, was struck by a log and he was knocked unconscious. Other members of the rescue team immediately attempted to rescue him. He was eventually pulled from the river and flown to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Officer Hartman was a member of the Jackson County Underwater Rescue Team, which was composed of officers from several different agencies.

Officer Hartman had served with the agency for 7 years was survived by his wife and daughter.

Bio

Age 30
Tour 7 years
Badge 8001

Incident Details

Cause Drowned

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Most Recent Reflection

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I watched you drown, and I don’t quite remember the event quite the way it is written up here. What matters is that someone, very selfishly, decided to go canoeing in very high, very dangerous, flood-stage water of the Little Blue. You and many others answered that call to help him, and you died needlessly because of it. I will never lose the images of your tragic death from my mind. It was an honour and privilege to know you, Dave.

Walk well, my Brother.

Donnie Bowerman
Retired LEO
CMSUPD, IPD, KCPD, JCSD, DEA

August 23, 2018