KCPD Memorial Lest We Forget
Honoring the Fallen
Officer
Homer Lee Darling
Kansas City, MO Police Dept
EOW: Sunday, Aug 27, 1911
Date of incident: Aug 26, 1911
Age: 25
DOB: July 19, 1886
Tour of Duty: 1 year
Cause: Vehicle accident, motorcycle

Officer Homer Darling was fatally injured in a vehicular while responding to a call on his police motorcycle.

On August 26, 1911 at approximately 11:30 pm, Officer Darling, O.E. Johnson, and A.W. Mitchell, of the Flora Avenue Station, were riding their police motorcycles on 17th Street between Prospect and Montgall responding to a burglary call at 1707 Kensington. Officer Johnson was about a 1/2 block ahead of the others and passed a buggy without any difficulty. The buggy, which was carrying no lights, attempted to make a turn to the south into an alley, Officer Mitchell was the next to reach the buggy on 17th Street near Prospect and struck one of the buggy's rear wheels. Officer Darling following Officer Mitchell crashed into the buggy and was thrown from his motorcycle fracturing his skull. Officer Darling was taken to General Hospital in critical condition where he died at 2:30 am on August 27, 1911.

Officer Darling, 25, had been on the department for a little more than 1 year. He was survived by his wife of four months, Bertha. The funeral was held at his residence, at 345 Prospect. His pay was continued at 50% for 6 months to his widow as a benefit. Interred: Elmwood Cemetery.

Article by Brent Marchant

Kansas City Police Memorial