The Kansas City, Missouri Police Department has released the name of the Officers killed Thursday evening while on patrol at Truman Road and Benton Boulevard.

Officer James Muhlbauer, a twenty year veteran of the department and his K9 partner Champ were on patrol in the area near Truman Road and Benton Blvd. when their vehicle was struck by another vehicle. Both vehicles were then pushed into a pedestrian.

The pedestrian and K9Officer Champ were both declared deceased at the scene.
Officer Muhlbauer was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his
injuries.

Kansas City Police Chief Stacy Graves, flanked by the Department’s Deputy Chiefs,
Mayor Quinton Lucas, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters-Baker and Police
Commissioner Dawn Cramer addressed the media Thursday, acknowledging the pain the department is going through. “Our Department is hurting, we’re sad, we’re shaken, but this pales in comparison to what Officer Muhlbauer’s family is going through. “Please hold Officer Muhlbauer’s family in your prayers. ”
Chief Graves said. “Officer Muhlbauer was married and a loving father.”

Chief Graves also specifically thanked the North Kansas City Police Department who
responded to the scene and transported Officer Champ to the hospital to reunite him with Officer Muhlbauer. “Together they were given a heroe’s escort,” Graves said.

Mayor Quinton Lucas stated that Chief Graves speaks for the entire city. “It has been a challenging path,” Lucas stated. . “We had an officer who was shot several days ago. We had all of our officers involved in a very significant substantial operation yesterday, and then you had this occurrence. It’s tragic. So we all grieve with the Kansas City Police Department, we grieve certainly with the officer”s family and the entire city.”

Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters-Baker said her office would be dedicating the time necessary to put together a solid case and continue to work with the Police Department on making sure justice is served.

The suspect in this case is a male in his fifties and remains in police custody at this
time. Impairment is being investigated as a contributor to the accident.
Officer Muhlbauer spent his entire, 20-year career in patrol, the last three in the department’s K9 unit. Officer Champ was a one year veteran of the department and lived with the Muhlbauer family. Officer Muhlbauer leaves a wife and a son.

Funeral arrangements are pending. The case remains under investigation.