The Hays Police Department is mourning the loss of Sgt. Scott Heimann, a respected officer who was killed in the line of duty during a weekend standoff. Sgt. Heimann, who joined the department in 2016, was remembered as a dedicated public servant whose commitment to his community never wavered. His death has left both the city and law enforcement agencies across Kansas grieving.
The incident began late on Saturday, September 27, when police received a 911 call from a woman who had escaped a violent domestic situation. Authorities say the suspect, 34-year-old Zane Wickham of Hays, rammed the woman’s vehicle as she tried to flee before she sought refuge at a nearby home and called for help. By early Sunday morning, officers had surrounded Wickham’s residence on Downing Street in an effort to contain the situation.
At approximately 1:55 a.m. on September 28, a single gunshot was fired from inside the home, striking Sgt. Heimann as he stood outside. Fellow officers rushed to aid him, and he was airlifted to a regional hospital. Despite urgent medical care, Heimann was pronounced dead shortly after 4 a.m. His death marked a devastating moment for the department and community, as colleagues described him as a professional, steady presence in times of crisis.
Law enforcement attempted to end the standoff peacefully. Negotiators reached out repeatedly, while tactical teams deployed gas, specialized devices, and surveillance equipment. At around 6:15 a.m., officers entered the home and found Wickham dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Officials confirmed that no law enforcement officers discharged their weapons during the encounter. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation has since taken charge of the investigation.
Community leaders have expressed deep sorrow over the loss. Hays Mayor Sandy Jacobs called Heimann’s sacrifice “unforgettable,” urging residents to keep his family in their prayers. Police Chief Don Scheibler echoed the sentiment, noting that Heimann exemplified the courage and sacrifice of law enforcement. “Today we are reminded that police officers put the lives of others above their own,” Scheibler said. “Sgt. Heimann gave his life in service.”
Sgt. Heimann is now the third Hays officer to be killed in the line of duty, and the first since 1875. His death also marks the fourth consecutive month Kansas has lost a law enforcement officer. As the city reflects on his nearly decade-long career, his colleagues and neighbors are remembering him not only as a guardian of public safety, but also as a man whose life embodied honor, courage, and service.