Memorial Service Honors Fallen Officers

The Kansas City Missouri Police Department held a memorial service the morning of May 11 at Police Headquarters, honoring the 120 officers in department history who died in the line of duty.

In attendance was the family of Officer James Muhlbauer who died Feb. 15 with his K-9 partner, Champ.

The ceremony was led by Chief Stacey Graves and included an honor guard, a 21-gun salute, the KCPD Color Guard, and bagpipers. There were 120 flags on display at the ceremony representing each one of these officers. For 120 hours preceding the service, dispatchers read one officer’s name per hour over the police radio system.

Chris Smith, brother-in-law of Officer Muhlbauer, spoke about the family’s loss. Several other surviving family members of fallen officers also attended the service.

Due to rain, the service took place inside the Community Room.