Richard Dean Bird
Agency patch
Patrolman

Richard Dean Bird

Kansas City Police Department — Kansas City, MO
Accident
End of Watch July 4, 1969
Age 35
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
The Vigil Panel 105 ›
Gender Male

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
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Richard. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

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

Type Police Department
Location Kansas City, MO
Platform Identity kcpd.jackson.mo.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 4, 1969
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
Age 35
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident
Weapon Not available

Patrolman Richard Dean Bird is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 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 29.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

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.

Kansas City Police Department
47
of 120 officers
39.2% Accident
MO — Statewide
237
of 813 officers
29.2% Accident
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Accident

National Cause Distribution

How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Richard Dean Bird's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Richard Dean Bird Compares

Age at Death
35
This officer
Avg for Accident: 38.1 years
Years of Service
11
This officer
Avg for Accident: 9.1 years

When Accident Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Richard Dean Bird is highlighted in Jul.

Jan
820
Feb
730
Mar
748
Apr
708
May
848
Jun
797
Jul
899
Aug
938
Sep
913
Oct
925
Nov
872
Dec
897

Incident Location