Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Richard Bird was injured in a motorcycle crash while pursuing a speeding car near 87th Street and Troost Avenue in Kansas City. While traveling on Troost Avenue, a car turned left in front of him. Patrolman Bird hit the front of the car and flew off his patrol motorcycle. Patrolman Bird was transported to Baptist Memorial Hospital and then transferred to the Menorah Medical Center, where he died due to severe brain injuries. Patrolman Bird had served with the Kansas City Police Department for 11 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-E1B9998F- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Bird gave the Kansas City Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Kansas City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Bird.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Richard Dean Bird is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In MO, 237 of 813 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 29.2% of this state's fallen. That is 1.8 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Kansas City Police Department, 47 of 120 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 39.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Richard Dean Bird's cause is highlighted.
How Richard Dean Bird Compares
Offender Outcome
Not available
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Richard Dean Bird is highlighted in Jul.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
119 officers from Kansas City Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
