KCPD Memorial Lest We Forget
Honoring the Fallen
Officer
Frank Shelton Mansfield
Kansas City, MO Police Dept
EOW: Monday, December 16, 1918
Date of incident: Dec 13, 1918
Age: 42
DOB: July 31, 1876
Tour: 4 years
Cause: Streetcar accident

On December 13, 1918, Officer Frank Mansfield was seriously injured in a streetcar crash while working an on-duty security detail for the streetcar. He died from his injuries three days later

A strike by union street car workers was under way in Kansas City, when the mayor called on the police department for assistance. Two hundred uniformed officers were assigned to guard duty, with reserves of officers and the 7th regiment on standby. Beginning on December 13, 1918, the officers were to function as guards for the crews and patrols with each car carrying two officers. Officers Frank Mansfield and George Stiver were assigned to street car #1119. Later that day the street car's air brakes failed as it traveled on the downgrade in a westerly direction on the Twelfth Street viaduct. The car was going too fast and jumped the track near Liberty Street and crashed into the Union Pacific Freight Building. The front of the car missed the building but the rear of the car slammed into the structure, tearing away the rear half of the car, crushing the steel and wooden car and the seats into a mass. The front of the car came to final rest after traveling 75 feet off the track. Officer Stiver, who was riding at the front of the car, and the motorman were uninjured. Officer Mansfield, who was at the rear of the car, suffered massive injuries in the crash. Two passengers died at the scene and eight more were seriously injured. Officer Mansfield was taken to General Hospital where he died of his injuries on December 16, 1918. An investigation showed that the air brakes had been applied to the maximum and the sand for the emergency brakes had also failed to be delivered when activated.

Officer Mansfield, 42, had been a member of the department four years when he was killed. Officer Mansfield was survived by his wife, Ruth. Interred: Odessa Cemetery, Odessa, Missouri.

Article by Brent Marchant

Kansas City Police Memorial