Gov. Laura Kelly has ordered flags throughout Kansas to be flown at half-staff in honor of Officer Mike Mosher, an Overland Park police officer who was slain while on duty Sunday.
Officer Mosher was a 14-year veteran of the Overland Park Police Department, a field training officer and community policing officer. He was the president of the Overland Park Fraternal Order of Police.
According to Overland Park police, he was on his way to work Sunday when he went to a hit-and-run call near 123rd and Antioch. He was shot while at the scene. The suspect also was shot and died at the scene, according to police.
“I was deeply saddened to learn of Officer Mike Mosher’s death,” Gov. Kelly said. “When our officers sign up to protect and serve our communities, they are putting their lives on the line for us. The sacrifices he and his family have made will certainly not be forgotten. Officer Mosher was an outstanding officer, and I offer my sincere condolences to his family during this difficult time.”
The governor’s office will provide guidelines later on the dates that the flags will be flown at half-staff.
Gov. Kelly also has announced a new executive order, adding first responders who are killed in the line of duty to the list of those who will be officially recognized through a posthumous order. The new executive order, replacing one originally signed under another governor, adds members of law enforcement, fire and emergency response communities to the list.
The Overland Park Police Department will hold a “Salute to Blue” at 8:30 p.m. Sunday, May 10, lighting the city in blue. There will be a procession of police vehicles in Overland Park. Social distancing will be required for anyone viewing the procession from the procession route, https://dw.opkansas.org/public/FileCabinets/2fa13812-70a3-4126-848b-3a20df7175c3/Documents/10506/FileDownload?targetFileType=Auto&keepAnnotations=false.
A public visitation will be held while staying inside personal vehicles, from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 12, under the canopy of the 110th Street entrance to the Overland Park Convention Center, according to information from the Overland Park website, https://www.opkansas.org/events/visitation-for-officer-mike-mosher/.
A private funeral will take place Wednesday, May 13, for family and friends. The public may view the procession escort along College Boulevard and Metcalf Avenue, to the Johnson County Funeral Chapel and Memorial Gardens, according to the website.
The private graveside service, for family and friends only, will include bagpipes and drums from area law enforcement agencies, as well as bugles for taps from the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office and the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department. The Kansas Highway Patrol will provide a 21-gun salute and a helicopter flyover. The Wichita Police Department will provide a riderless horse. There will be a cannon salute from the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism.
Memorial donations are being accepted at the Overland Park Police Officers Foundation website, https://oppof.org/.