Funeral procession planned for Kansas City officer killed in crash. Here’s the route
Kansas Citians are invited to pay their final respects to the Kansas City police officer killed in a crash last week during a public visitation and funeral procession on Wednesday.
The police department recently released the procession route.
Community members who want to pay their respects to Officer James Muhlbauer, 42, and his police K-9 Champ, can arrive between 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Municipal Auditorium at 301 West 13th Street in Kansas City.
Parking is first come, first serve, at the parking garage beneath Barney Allis Plaza, accessible from Wyandotte Street, south of West 12th Street.
Following the funeral, the procession will leave Municipal Auditorium for the funeral home. The procession will exit on 13th Street to Broadway Boulevard, then head northbound on Broadway Boulevard to the Buck O’Neil Bridge, turning onto northbound 169 Highway. The vehicles will then take the Vivion Road exit, and continue eastbound on Vivion Road before heading northbound on Antioch Road. From there they will turn eastbound on 64th Street, then ending again at Antioch Street.
“ALL vehicles except family and invited guests in the procession will disband upon passing the funeral home for the family to see,” police officials wrote.
An 11:30 a.m. funeral service will follow the visitation Wednesday. The department plans to livestream the service. There will not be graveside services.
Muhlbauer was patrolling with Champ when they were struck Wednesday night by another vehicle near Truman Road and Benton Boulevard. The impact caused a secondary collision with a pedestrian, Jesse Eckes, 52, police officials said.
A father, KCPD veteran
The officer, known to family and friends as “Jim,” was married and a father. He joined the Kansas City Police Department in 2002. Champ was a 3-year-old Dutch Shepherd.
Facing criticism, prosecutor explains charges in death of KC police officer, K-9
Muhlbauer spent his career in the patrol division; for the past three years he’s served with the K-9 unit.
In 2014, Muhlbauer worked closely with the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office leading up to his arrest of Brandon Howell, who was later convicted of five counts of first-degree murder.
In a news conference Thursday, city officials expressed their grief about the tragedy, noting both Muhlbauer and his K-9 Champ were serving the city when they died.
“The officers were serving and protecting this city,” Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said. “They were putting themselves in harms way. They were being public servants the city needs. And in the moment we lost them. Our department is hurting. We’re sad and we’re shaken.”
On Friday, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced her office filed two counts of involuntary manslaughter against Jerron Lightfoot, 18, of Tonganoxie, for operating a vehicle at an excessive speed and running a red light, causing the fatal crash.
The Fraternal Order of Police started a fundraiser for Muhlbauer’s family. Donations can be made here.
