Honoring

Police Officer James Muhlbauer

Kansas City Police Department, Missouri

EOW: Feb. 15, 2023 | Age: None | Tour: 20 years

Police Officer Jim Muhlbauer and K9 Champ were killed in a vehicle crash at 10:15 pm at the intersection of East Truman Road and Benton Boulevard in Kansas City. A vehicle crashed into Officer Mulbauer and K9 Champ while in their patrol vehicle. A pedestrian was also hit. K9 Champ and the pedestrian died at the scene. Officer Muhlbauer was taken to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The driver that hit the police car was also injured and is in police custody pending investigation. Officer Muhlbauer had served with the Kansas City Police Department for 20 years. He is survived by his wife and child.

Honoring

K9 Graffit

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, Colorado

EOW: Feb. 13, 2023 | Age: 8 | Tour: 7.5 years

K9 Graffit was shot and killed while assisting in the search for an armed subject. Officers with the Golden Police Department and the Colorado School of Mines Police Department attempted to apprehend a man who was unconscious in his vehicle near 19th Street and Elm Street at about 12:15 am. When officers tried to wake him he drove away but stopped at 19th Street and Tangent Way. As officers approached him again he rammed several patrol cars in an attempt to escape. The officers broke the driver's window and put the car in park, but the subject fled on foot into a wooded area while pointing a handgun at them. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Canine Unit joined the search for the armed subject. When K9 Graffit located the man, the subject fired multiple shots, striking K9 Graffit. A deputy returned fire but did not hit the man who continued to hide until surrendering around 5:00 am. K9 Graffit had served with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office for 7 1/2 years.

Honoring

Police Officer Julian Becerra

Fountain Police Department, Colorado

EOW: Feb. 11, 2023 | Age: None | Tour: 4.5 years

Police Officer Julian Becerra succumbed to injuries sustained nine days earlier when he fell from an overpass in Colorado Springs during a vehicle pursuit of carjacking suspects. The suspects had been pursued by multiple agencies over the course of several hours. At about 7:15 pm they attempted to carjack a second vehicle at the Love's Travel Plaza in Fountain and led officers on another pursuit toward Colorado Springs. The vehicle was partially disabled after stop sticks were deployed as it exited I-25 to South Academy Boulevard. The vehicle was stopped just east of Hartford Street and all three occupants fled on foot with officers in pursuit. Officer Becerra was chasing one of the suspects when he fell from an overpass to the pavement approximately 40 feet below. He was transported to a local hospital where he remained until succumbing to his injuries on February 11th, 2023. All three suspects were apprehended. Officer Becerra was a U.S. Air Force veteran. He had served with the Fountain Police Department for 4-1/2 years and was assigned to the Canine Unit. He is survived by his wife and two children.

Honoring

K9 Champ

Kansas City Police Department, Missouri

EOW: Feb. 15, 2023 | Age: 3 | Tour: 1 year

K9 Champ and Police Officer Jim Muhlbauer were killed in a vehicle crash at 10:15 pm at the intersection of East Truman Road and Benton Boulevard in Kansas City. A vehicle crashed into K9 Champ and Officer Mulbauer while in their patrol car. A pedestrian was also hit. K9 Champ and the pedestrian died at the scene. Officer Muhlbauer was taken to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The driver that hit the police car was also injured and is in police custody pending investigation. K9 Champ had served with the Kansas City Police Department for one year. He lived with Officer Muhlbauer and his family.