Officer James Owens was fatally injured when attempting to control a mental patient at General Hospital #2.

On December 18, 1947, Officer Owens, 50, was a police guard at the General Hospital #2, at 22nd & McCoy (now Kenwood Ave), when he was alerted that a dangerous, mentally unstable patient had broken out of his room. The patient escaped from two straight jackets escaped his room before Officer Owens arrived. Officer Owens persuaded the patient to return to his room to change clothes but as they walked to the room the 32 year-old patient struck Officer Owens, knocking him to the floor and causing Officer Owens to lose consciousness. The patient was subdued by other orderlies and the fire department who was forced to use a fire hose to subdue him. Officer Owens was admitted to General Hospital where he died that day.

Officer owens was with the Kansas City Police Department for 12 years, serving as a police officer for 9 years. He worked as a police guard at the hospital for four years at the time of his death. Officer Owens was survived by his wife, Marjorie, child, and sister, Zepora Franks. Interred: Lincoln Cemetery.

Article by Brent Marchant