We Give Thanks to Those Fallen
A page dedicated to those fallen in the line of duty. We honor and remember you.Thank you for your services!
Captain Robert David Melton
Captain Dave Melton was shot and killed while searching for an armed subject who had fled from other officers who had responded to a shots fired call at approximately 2:00 pm.
As officers arrived on the scene, several subjects exited the vehicle they were in and fled on foot. One of the men was apprehended immediately. Officers began searching the area for the other subjects. Captain Melton was fatally shot when he encountered one of the men near the intersection of 22nd Street and Haskell Avenue.
Two subjects were taken into custody. The suspect pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, aggravated assault, and criminal discharge of a firearm. He received life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years. The 2nd suspect pleaded guilty to aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer and criminal discharge of a firearm and was sentenced to 21 months in prison. The 2nd suspect had already been taken into custody when Captain Melton had been shot.
Captain Melton was a Kansas National Guard veteran who served with the Kansas City Police Department for 17 years and had previously served with the Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Office for nine years. He is survived by his three children and expectant girlfriend.
Officer Hunter Simoncic
Police Officer Hunter Simoncic was intentionally struck and killed by the driver of a fleeing vehicle.
When responding to reports of gunfire in the area at 12:30 a.m., officers discovered an unconscious man in the driver’s seat of a truck. As they approached, the driver fled, and officers pursued. The subject changed vehicles and continued to evade officers. Officer Simoncic and another officer were laying down stop sticks when the man intentionally drove over a median and swerved into Officer Simoncic, before driving away. Officer Simoncic was transported to the University of Kansas Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The suspect crashed his truck and was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. When he was released, he was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder, vehicular homicide, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, theft, criminal possession of a firearm, and aggravated failure to appear. The suspect, a convicted felon, had a warrant for his arrest and had a history of felony resisting arrest and evading law enforcement.
Officer Simoncic had served with the Kansas City Police Department for over one year. He was survived by his parents and brother.
source – http://odmp.org/
Officer Cody Allen
Independence Police Department, Missouri
End of Watch Thursday, February 29, 2024
Officer Cody Allen was shot and killed at 1100 N Elsea Smith Road while responding to the shooting of Civil Process Server Drexel Mack, of the 16th Judicial Circuit Court of Jackson County, at about 1:00 pm.
Officer Allen had served with the Independence Police Department for six years and had served in law enforcement for 15 years. He had previously served with the Grandview Police Department for six years and the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office for seven years. He is survived by his wife and two children.
- Age 35
- Tour 15 years
- Badge 1598
Detective Sergeant Mason Griffith
Detective Sergeant Mason Griffith was shot and killed at Casey’s Convenience Store at 115 Highway 19 in Hermann around 9:30 pm.
Sergeant Griffith and another officer were responding to a disturbance at a convenience store. When the officers arrived, a shootout occurred. Both officers were shot. One officer is in serious but stable condition. Sergeant Griffith succumbed to his injuries at Hermann Area District Hospital.
Sergeant Mason had served with the Hermann Police Department for over 12 years and was the part-time Chief of Police of the Rosebud Police Department and Reserve Deputy Sheriff of the Gasconade County Sheriff’s Office. He is survived by his wife, two sons, mother, and father.
- Age 34
- Tour 12 years
- Badge 503
Police Officer Daniel Francisco Vasquez
North Kansas City Police Department, Missouri
End of Watch Tuesday, July 19, 2022
Police Officer Daniel Vasquez was shot and killed while making a traffic stop near the intersection of 21st Street and Clay Street at about 10:40 am.
The driver of the vehicle shot Officer Vasquez before fleeing. A backup officer who arrived at the scene began CPR before Officer Vasquez was transported to a nearby hospital. He succumbed to his wounds a short time later.
The subject who shot him turned himself in at the Kansas City Police Department approximately three hours later.
Officer Vasquez had served with the North Kansas City Police Department for two years. He is survived by his mother, father, two sisters, niece, nephew, and fiancee.
- Age 32
- Tour 2 years