KCPD Memorial Lest We Forget
Honoring the Fallen
Police Officer
Thomas Richard Meyers
Kansas City, MO Police Dept
EOW: Wednesday, January 14, 1998
Age: 53
DOB: June 4, 1944
Tour of Duty: 25 years
Badge# 1589
Cause: Vehicular assault
Incident Location: Platte CountyLocation: SB I-29 & Tiffany Springs Rd.
Suspect: Sentenced to 30 years

Officer Meyers was conducting a traffic accident investigation along SB I-29 near Tiffany Springs Road at approximately 10:54 a.m. involving a minor accident where a jeep had struck a concrete median. Officer Meyers witnessed the jeep strike the concrete median, then spin around and come to rest facing north in the innermost southbound lane. Officer Meyers turned around and was providing assistance to the driver of the Jeep, protecting the driver in the heavy mid-day traffic on I-29 using squad cars red lights. A tow truck was stopped north of the jeep and Meyers' squad car was parked behind the tow truck. Meyers, along with the driver of the Jeep and one passenger, was standing near the jeep while the tow truck driver was under the Jeep, examining the damage. A southbound car passed the patrol car and tow truck, then swerved into the left lane where it struck Meyers; struck and injured the three civilians and struck the Jeep.

The drunk driver, Larry Bittick, whose BAC was three times the legal limit, was charged with assault on a law enforcement officer, a class B felony, and three counts of assault. The suspect was sentenced:

COUNT 1 - Assault of a Law Enforcement Officer 2nd degree - 15 years.
COUNT 2 - Assault in the 2nd degree - 5 years & a fine of $2000.
COUNT 3 - Assault in the 2nd degree - 5 years & a fine of $2000.
COUNT 4 - Assault in the 2nd degree - 5 years & a fine of $2000.

Officer Meyers was a 25 year veteran in law enforcement. He worked at the Gladstone and Riverside Police Departments before joining the Kansas City Police Department in 1985 where he earned three Meritorious Service Awards and 39 letters of commendation during his career. He is survived by his wife, Trudy, son, Troy, daughter, Tracy, mother, Elizabeth and brother, Charles. Interred: Mount Moriah Terrace Park Cemetery.

Kansas City Police Memorial