Thank you for your support in wake of officers' shooting

Three of our officers were shot yesterday while trying to apprehend the man that we have identified as the suspect in the murder of a UMKC student from India - Sharath Koppu - on July 6. Fortunately, all three officers’ injuries were not life threatening. The suspect was killed in a gun battle with police. You can see pictures of one of the officer's vehicles above.

But I think the bigger story is what happened before, outside of and after yesterday’s incident. The people of Kansas City really came together to help us solve this senseless slaying of an innocent man. After we released video of the suspect, we got more than 40 tips from community members. About ten of those all identified the same person. I think this is proof both that the people of Kansas City will not tolerate that kind of violence and that the increased $10,000 reward for information in homicides is paying off.

Obviously, our very brave and courageous officers deserve a great deal of credit and praise for what happened yesterday. Without being called, they responded from all over the city, on-duty and off. Some of them just put on their uniforms and showed up to help in any way they could.

On behalf of the KCPD, I’d like to thank the agencies who assisted us at multiple shooting scenes yesterday, including the Kansas City Missouri Fire Department, Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, Missouri State Highway Patrol, U.S. Marshals, FBI and ATF. Taking It to the Streets and the Salvation Army provided food, drink and a place to cool off and use the restroom for the officers, detectives and crime scene staff who were out working these incidents. We’d also like to thank the amazing hospital staff members who have cared for our officers so diligently and cheerfully accommodated all of their visitors.

As those officers recover in the hospital, they are taking in the massive amount of support that has flowed their way, and it is lifting their spirits. Members of the Board of Police Commissioners and Mayor Sly James came to visit them. Missouri Gov. Mike Parson called to offer his support and acknowledge the bravery and sacrifice required in police work. Other elected officials have reached out, as well. I’ve lost track of how many of our fellow police agencies around the metro area and across the country have reached out with their support and prayers. Members of the media have offered their well-wishes.

Most importantly, our community has rallied around these officers and our department. We were frankly a little taken aback by all the notes of thanks and support that have come in on social media, e-mail and by phone. That support means the world not only to the officers who are recovering, but to everyone on this department. Because this job is not easy, and in recent years, it’s only gotten harder as tension has erupted between law enforcement and the people they serve across the country. Our job is to protect and serve every single person who lives, works or visits Kansas City, Mo., with professionalism and integrity, and we take that duty extremely seriously. For officers to go out there and know that their work is appreciated means more than a paycheck ever could. I just can’t say “thank you” enough to the people of our city who are partnering with us to make it safer.

Some of those people were in the neighborhoods yesterday where these incidents occurred. We interrupted a church service and had people shelter in place in their houses. We appreciate everyone’s cooperation in our efforts to bring this incident to the safest conclusion possible.

We hope everyone’s support continues beyond these next few days. The terror of what happened will not stop for these officers after they leave the hospital. They are husbands, fathers, sons and brothers, and their families have undergone trauma, as well. We deployed a chaplain to the hospital and to each of our urban core police stations to pray with and encourage not only the injured officers but especially our newer officers who are understandably shaken. Our Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 99 also hosted a chaplain and activated our peer support network. The KCPD CARE Team assisted with practical matters for the injured officers’ families. Everyone involved in this situation will remember what took place for the rest of their career, and their lives, for that matter. They will also remember the outpouring of support received from this community. Thank you to all. 

Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org.

Officers struck downtown Friday are doing well

I just wanted to update you on two of our officers who were hit by a car Friday night while directing traffic outside the Sprint Center following a concert. Police had closed Grand Boulevard from Truman Road to 13th Street. At about 11:30 p.m., officers saw a vehicle traveling north on Grand at Truman Road, which then attempted to go eastbound on Truman in the westbound lanes of traffic (the wrong way). Officers approached the driver in an attempt to direct him westbound. But as they approached, the driver accelerated, striking one officer with the front of the vehicle and throwing him up onto the hood. The officer rolled off the hood onto the street. The suspect continued northbound on Grand striking the second officer at 13th and Grand in the wrist. Other officers took the suspect into custody near 11th and Main.

Fortunately, the two officers who were hit are going to be all right. They were banged up and are pretty sore, but both are back at work today on full duty. This situation could have been much, much worse, and we are very grateful it wasn't.

The suspected driver has been charged with two counts of second-degree assault of a law enforcement officer, one count of resisting arrest and one count of leaving the scene of an accident. He is being held on $250,000 bond.

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Update on employee struck at DUI checkpoint

You may have heard that on early Saturday morning, one of our civilian employees was struck and seriously hurt at a DUI checkpoint. I wanted to give you an update on how he's doing and say that we're still looking for the suspect, so if you have any information, please call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.

The checkpoint was set up in the 7600 block of Troost with KCPD and the Missouri State Highway Patrol. About 2:18 a.m. June 11, an officer contacted the occupant of a dark-colored Dodge car and asked to see his license. The suspect immediately accelerated, pulled out of line and struck one of our Fleet Operations Unit technicians. Fleet techs assist at DUI checkpoints by keeping the Mobile DUI Enforcement Center and prisoner buses up and running by maintaining equipment like generators. They also help by parking the cars of DUI suspects.

After being hit, the Fleet Ops technician, a man in his mid-30s, clung to the hood of the car until he was thrown off about six blocks later in the 8200 block of Troost. He suffered serious injuries to his leg and is undergoing surgery, but is doing very well considering the circumstances.

Police fired shots at the fleeing car and attempted to pursue it, but it eluded them. They do not know if any suspect was hit.

Just before 10 a.m. Saturday, police found a vehicle abandoned in the 200 block of W. Bannister. They believe it was the car that assaulted the KCPD employee at the DUI checkpoint.

We are continuing to investigate this case, and the Fleet Operations Technician is continuing to recover. We are very thankful that he could be out of the hospital as early as this week. Please call 816-474-TIPS (8477) if you have any information about this incident.

Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org.

Man charged in wreck that seriously injured officer

Two KCPD officers were struck at 4 p.m. yesterday in their patrol car at 35th and Euclid. They were hit by a black BMW driven by 30-year-old Frank J. Ross III (pictured above). Ross is alleged to have disregarded a stop sign and T-boned the police vehicle. The patrol car driver received minor injuries and was treated and released. The officer in the passenger seat received serious injuries - including multiple broken bones – and remains hospitalized. Firefighters had to extricate him from the patrol car.

Ross has been charged in Jackson County Court with two counts of assault in the second degree – operating a vehicle while intoxicated. He had a blood alcohol level of 0.185 - more than two times the legal limit. The suspect and his two passengers said they were leaving a Chief's game.

It was ironic that this incident should happen on the eve of our You Drink, You Drive, You Lose week, which runs from today until Dec. 12. During this week, we're dedicating extra enforcement efforts to stopping impaired drivers. This shows many people truly do lose when you drink and drive. My thoughts and prayers are with this officer for a speedy recovery.


Send comments to kcpdchiefsblog@kcpd.org.

Officer severely injured in off-duty car accident that killed his wife

Today is a sad day at the KCPD as one of our officers was critically injured in a car crash, and his wife was killed. The off-duty officer and his wife were headed southbound on Interstate 29 about 7 miles north of St. Joseph, Mo., yesterday, July 25. At about 3:15 a.m., the officer was driving and veered off the east side of the road. Their SUV went airborne, crossed an adjoining road, struck an embankment and overturned once, according to the Missouri Highway Patrol report. The officer’s 26-year-old wife was pronounced dead at the scene. The 25-year-old officer, who has been with KCPD since March 2008, suffered very serious injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital. He underwent surgery and remains in critical condition. The preliminary investigation indicates the officer may have fallen asleep while driving. Both he and his wife were wearing their seat belts. The officer works at the Central Patrol Division.


Please keep this officer, his family and friends, and the loved ones of his wife in your thoughts and prayers. Please also remember this officer’s colleagues. I have said many times that the Kansas City Missouri Police Department is a family, and we all will be mourning and hurting during this time.

Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org

Motorcycle officer who was hit yesterday recovering but not seriously injured

As many of you heard on the news yesterday, one of our motorcycle officers was injured when he was struck by a van on 670. At 12:43 p.m. Wednesday, the officer - a 15-year KCPD veteran - was traveling east on 670 when a van on his right suddenly came over into the officer's lane trying to get on northbound Interstate 35. The van clipped the front of the officer's bike, and he went down and was ejected from the motorcycle. He was transported by ambulance to a local hospital. The driver who hit him stayed at the scene and cooperated with police. Multiple witnesses also pulled over and stayed at the scene while police investigated.

The latest update on the officer's condition is that he's still in the hospital recuperating, but fortunately, his injuries aren't nearly as serious as they could have been. He has a broken bone in his hand and many bumps, bruises and scrapes. He and all of us here at KCPD appreciate the concern so many of you have expressed.

Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org

Detective who was shot this morning should be OK

At 6:32 a.m. today, patrol officers were called to the Greyhound bus station at 11th and Troost on an assist-the-officer call.

Upon arrival, officers contacted detectives who were at the bus station. The detectives advised they had tried to stop a man who was acting suspicious. After contacting the man, a struggle ensued. During the struggle, the suspect's gun went off and struck one of the detectives in the leg. The suspect was taken into custody and was found to have two guns on him when stopped by detectives.

The detective who was shot was transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org.