KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Kansas City community is honoring fallen Kansas City, Missouri, police officer James Muhlbauer and his partner K-9 Champ during a visit, funeral and procession Wednesday.
LIVE: Funeral service for fallen KCPD police officer James Muhlbauer
14:23 | KCPD Officer James Muhlbauer’s wife and son, Cassie and Ayden Muhlbauer, were presented with flags outside the Municipal Auditorium.
2:10 pm | The radio dispatchers gave the clock’s end for Muhlbauer and Champ.
14:06 | Muhlbauer and his K-9 partner, Champ, received a 21-gun salute outside the Municipal Auditorium.
14:04 | Muhlbauer’s flag-draped coffin is carried from the Municipal Auditorium to a waiting hearse following his funeral.
1:21 PM | Chasity Hedrick, a family friend of Muhlbauer’s, reads a letter from his widow, Cassie Muhlbauer.
1:16 pm | “Jim was proud to be a police officer and we are proud of him,” said Vern Muhlbauer, James’ father.
James’ mother Chris stood beside Vern as he delivered his remarks.
1:05 pm | “I wish it was all a bad dream we were all having,” said KCPD officer Tanner Moats, with the KCPD’s K-9 unit behind him.
12:43 | KCPD officers Ben Cassell and Wade Nosnibor reflected on their memories in the department with Muhlbauer and Champ.
“It comforts me a little to know that you will have your aide and the best patrol partner anyone could wish for, Champ, with you to keep you company,” Nosnibor said.
12:40 | Agent Muhlbauer’s brother-in-law, Chris Smith, thanked the community for the way Muhlbauer was honored.
12:29 | See photos from the lives of Kansas City, Missouri, police officer James Muhlbauer and K-9 champion:
12:22 | “As long as we have the breath to tell your story, your friendship, service and sacrifice will never be forgotten by those who love you,” said Muhlbauer’s childhood friend Jeff Hunter.
12:20 | Muhlbauer’s sister, Laurie Muhlbauer, also spoke about how proud she is of her brother.
“I’m proud of the devoted father he was,” she said. “I’m proud of him in his chosen profession. I’m proud that he’s my brother.”
12:13 | Fallen KCPD officer Muhlbauer’s family, including stepdaughter Makenzie Allison and son Ayden Muhlbauer, spoke during the service.
12:05 | Watch the sermon delivered at Muhlbauer’s memorial service:
Noon | KCPD Chief Stacey Graves spoke about Muhlbauer and Champ’s time with the police department during the memorial service.
“We love you, thank you for your service, rest assured and we will take care of it from here,” said Graves.
11:30 am | The city of Kansas City, Missouri, and community leaders honored Muhlbauer on Wednesday.
“My prayers are with the family and friends of Officer James Muhlbauer and the entire Kansas City Police Department today as they bury one of their own,” Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II said in a statement. “Our community will be forever grateful for the dedicated service provided by agent Muhlbauer and his partner, Champ.”
11:26 | The visit ended and the funeral ceremony for Muhlbauer began.
KSHB extension
ORIGINAL STORY | KCPD Police Officer James Muhlbauer, K-9 Champ and a pedestrian were killed in a traffic collision on Wednesday night, February 15th. Police say a driver ran through a red light at the intersection of Truman Road and Benton Boulevard and hit Muhlbauer’s patrol car at around 10:15 p.m. Wednesday.
Champ and the pedestrian, identified as Jesse Eckes, 52, died at the scene.
Muhlbauer was transported to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries and died in the hospital.
The driver who struck Muhlbauer’s vehicle sustained minor injuries and was arrested pending further investigation.
Visiting for Muhlbauer and Champ will be held Wednesday from 9:30 to 11:00 at the Municipal Auditorium, 301 W. 13th St. in Kansas City, Missouri.
The funeral will begin at 11.30am
Citizens attending the funeral may park in the Barney Allis Plaza underground parking lot on a first-come, first-served basis. Attendees may enter the parking garage from Wyandotte Street, south of W. 12th Street.
Following the service, Muhlbauer and Champ will receive full honors outside the auditorium and a funeral procession will be held.
Wednesday’s procession will travel north from 13th Street to Broadway Boulevard. It will continue north on Broadway to the Buck O’Neil Bridge before joining US 169 Highway.
It will exit US 169 at Vivion Road and travel east on Vivion before turning north on Antioch to NE 64th Street.
All vehicles, aside from vehicles carrying family and invited guests, will then continue past the White Chapel Funeral Home, police say.
A separate procession was held for Champ on Friday, where he was carried to Rolling Acres Memorial Garden in Northland, as several K-9 units from throughout the Kansas City area paid their respects.
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson has announced that flags in Cass, Clay, Jackson and Platte counties will fly at half-staff for the fallen two.
The Local Fraternal Order of Police has launched an online fundraiser to support the wife and children that Muhlbauer leaves behind.
Muhlbauer served with KCPD for 20 years, the last three of which were spent with the K-9 unit.
In 2014, he arrested Brandon Howell, who fatally beat two people and fatally shot three people in the South KCMO community of Woodbridge.
Champ was part of the KCPD’s K-9 unit for one year.
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