James Muhlbauer
Agency patch
Police Officer

James Muhlbauer

Kansas City Police Department — Kansas City, MO
Accident
End of Watch February 15, 2023
Age 42
Tour of Duty 20 yrs
The Vigil Panel 398 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Jim Muhlbauer and K9 Champ were killed in a vehicle crash at 10:15 pm at the intersection of East Truman Road and Benton Boulevard in Kansas City.

A vehicle was traveling at 89 miles per hour, ran a red light, and crashed into Officer Mulbauer and K9 Champ while in their patrol vehicle. The impact caused the squad car to roll over. A pedestrian was also hit. K9 Champ and the pedestrian died at the scene. Officer Muhlbauer was taken to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

The 18-year-old driver who hit the police car was also injured and was taken into police custody pending investigation. He was charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter. In 2024, he pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree involuntary manslaughter.

Officer Muhlbauer had served with the Kansas City Police Department for 20 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and child.

In Our Keeping

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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

20 years. You could have gone home.
Police Officer Muhlbauer gave the Kansas City Police Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Kansas City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Muhlbauer.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

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

Service Record

End of Watch February 15, 2023
Tour of Duty 20 yrs
Age 42
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident
Cause Detail Automobile crash
Weapon Automobile

The Sacrifice · Accident

James is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 2023, 43 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 106th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

James was 42. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. James had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

February holds 7.2% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Wednesdays: 14.5%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 6.9% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Kansas City Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, James among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer James Muhlbauer

Kansas City Police Department · End of Watch February 15, 2023

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 50-E

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