Local non-profit group to assist family of fallen Kansas City police officer with immediate financial support

MORNING. COMING UP, PEOPLE STILL IN MOURNING OVER SUCH A TRAGIC LOSS LAST NIGHT. GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. I’M KRIS KETZ AND I’M LARA MORITZ, THE KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI POLICE OFFICER. HIS CANINE PARTNER, A MAN WALKING DOWN THE STREET, WERE ALL KILLED LATE LAST NIGHT. IT HAPPENED NEAR BENTON AND TRUMAN ROAD. POLICE SAY A CAR CRASH INTO OFFICER JAMES MITCHELL BOWERS CRUISER, WHICH HIT SOMEONE WALKING DOWN THE STREET. THE PEDESTRIAN AND MOBILE BOWERS K-9 OFFICER CHAMP DIED AT THE SCENE. OFFICER MARLBORO DIED SOON AFTER. AT A HOSPITAL. AND TONIGHT, A MEMORIAL IS GROWING OUTSIDE POLICE HEADQUARTERS, CAMBRIDGE TONIGHT AS BRIAN JOHNSON IS THERE TONIGHT AFTER TALKING WITH PEOPLE WHO CAME TO PAY THEIR RESPECTS. YEAH, CHRIS LAWRENCE, SO MANY HEARTS ARE BREAKING TONIGHT FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE AND THE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THIS HORRIBLE TRAGEDY. DESPITE THE FRIGID TEMPERATURES TODAY, LOOK AT ALL OF THE FLOWERS THAT PEOPLE HAVE LEFT ON THIS CRUISER. SO MANY TRYING TO OFFER THEIR RESPECT AND THEIR SUPPORT. YOU KNOW, IT’S BEEN REALLY HARD. EACH FLOWER PLACED ON THIS HOOD RECOGNIZES THAT K-9 OFFICER, CHAMP AND POLICE OFFICER JAMES MULBERRY BOTH GAVE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. EVERYONE IN KANSAS CITY IS HURTING BECAUSE IT HURTS THE COMMUNITY JUST AS MUCH AS IT DOES THE DEPARTMENT. GEN ZIMMERMAN IS THE DIRECTOR OF SAFE, THE SURVIVING SPOUSE AND FAMILY ENDOWMENT. ANY LOSS IS ONE TOO MANY SINCE THE NONPROFIT’S CREATION, SAFE HAS HELPED MORE THAN 40 FAMILIES. WHEN A POLICE OFFICER, FIRE OR EMS, DIE IN THE LINE OF DUTY AND OUR METRO SAFE GIVES $25,000 TO THEIR LOVED ONES WITHIN 48 HOURS TO PROVIDE IMMEDIATE SUPPORT, THE PURPOSE OF THAT $25,000 AND GETTING IT IN THEIR HANDS IMMEDIATELY IS SO THEY’RE NOT WORRIED ABOUT HOW THEY’RE GOING TO PAY THE BILLS AND HOW ARE THEY GOING TO BUY GROCERIES, HOW ARE THEY GOING TO PAY THE RENT? FAMILIES OF OFFICER BLAISE MADRID, EVANS OF INDEPENDENCE AND OFFICER DANIEL VASQUEZ OF NORTH KANSAS CITY WERE MOST RECENTLY AIDED. IT’S A SMALL CONTRIBUTION COMPARED TO THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE GIVEN BY THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE AND PROTECT. THIS IS NOT A FAMILY THEY EVER WANTED TO BE A PART OF. BUT NOW THEY ARE. AND WE’RE GOING TO SUPPORT THEM GOING FORWARD. LIGHT PICTURES TONIGHT. NOW, THIS IS CITY HALL, LIT AND BLEW MANY OF THE BUILDINGS DOWNTOWN ARE ALL LIT IN BLUE OFFERINGS, SUPPORT OFFICER MOBILE OR, OF COURSE, IF YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING TO SUPPORT, YOU CAN BRING SOME FLOWERS. YOU CAN DONATE TO SAVE OR GET INVOLVED. EVERY ACT OF KINDNESS MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE. LIVE IN KANS

Kansas City police officer James Muhlbauer and his K9 companion Champ gave the ultimate sacrifice. A local non-profit organization is stepping up to the plate to help the family and department out. The S.A.F.E. program was started by the Kansas City Metropolitan Crime Commission in 2003 to provide immediate financial assistance to surviving families of first responders who lose their life in the line of duty.Since the non-profits creation, S.A.F.E. has helped over 40 families in the Kansas City metro area. When a police officer, fire firefighter or an emergency responder dies in the line of duty, the group gives $25,000 to their loved ones within 48 hours to provide immediate support. “Everyone in Kansas City is hurting because it hurts the community just as much as it does the department,” said Jan Zimmerman, the director of S.A.F.E. “The purpose of that $25,000 and getting it in their hands immediately is so they’re not worried about how they’re going to pay the bills.”It’s a small contribution compared to the sacrifice given by the brave men and women who serve and protect. “This is not a family, they ever wanted to be a part of, but now they are,” Zimmerman said. “And we’re going to support them going forward.”

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —

Kansas City police officer James Muhlbauer and his K9 companion Champ gave the ultimate sacrifice.

A local non-profit organization is stepping up to the plate to help the family and department out.

The S.A.F.E. program was started by the Kansas City Metropolitan Crime Commission in 2003 to provide immediate financial assistance to surviving families of first responders who lose their life in the line of duty.

Since the non-profits creation, S.A.F.E. has helped over 40 families in the Kansas City metro area.

When a police officer, fire firefighter or an emergency responder dies in the line of duty, the group gives $25,000 to their loved ones within 48 hours to provide immediate support.

“Everyone in Kansas City is hurting because it hurts the community just as much as it does the department,” said Jan Zimmerman, the director of S.A.F.E. “The purpose of that $25,000 and getting it in their hands immediately is so they’re not worried about how they’re going to pay the bills.”

It’s a small contribution compared to the sacrifice given by the brave men and women who serve and protect.

“This is not a family, they ever wanted to be a part of, but now they are,” Zimmerman said. “And we’re going to support them going forward.”

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