Overland Park plans three days of events to honor slain police officer Mike Mosher
Overland Park will hold three days of events to honor and memorialize police officer Mike Mosher, who was killed Sunday in a shootout with a suspect in a hit-and-run, the city announced Thursday morning.
The events will include a Salute to Blue “Driving Vigil” this coming Sunday, a “Drive by Visitation” on Tuesday and a private funeral and public funeral procession Wednesday.
Mosher, a decorated, 14 1/2-year veteran of the force, was on his way to work shortly before 6 p.m. Sunday when he came across a possible hit-and-run. Mosher radioed for assistance, saying he was at West 123rd Street and Antioch Road.
Mosher radioed back shortly after that the driver had gotten out of his car and had confronted him, saying the driver appeared intoxicated.
Moments later, gunshots were fired. Mosher, and the suspect, Phillip Carney, both died in the shootout.
“Driving Vigil” to light up Overland Park blue
The Salute to Blue “Driving Vigil” will begin approximately 8:30 p.m. Sunday to honor the sacrifice of Mosher and other officers who have died in the line of duty. The vigil also marks the beginning of National Police Week in Overland Park.
Family and friends of Mosher, as well as Overland Park police officers and staff, law enforcement agencies from across the Kansas City metro area and Kansas and Missouri, will have a procession from 95th Street and Switzer Road through Overland Park ending at the Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead at 135th Street and Switzer.
Mosher was the first officer killed in Overland Park since Officer Deanna Rose was slain in January 1985. Rose died two days after the driver of a vehicle she pulled over on suspicion of intoxication ran her over.
Mosher was shot about three miles northeast from Children’s Farmstead named after Rose.
The procession route begins at 95th and Switzer and heads east on 95th, north on Antioch Road, east on 75th Street, south on Metcalf Avenue, west on 125th Street, north on Foster Street, west on 123rd Street, south on Antioch, west on 135th where it ends at the farmstead.
The significance of the route includes passing by or near Oak Park Mall where Mosher would often work off-duty, the site of Rose’s death at I-35 and 75th, the site of Rose’s funeral at 75th and Lowell Avenue, Overland Park Chapel in downtown Overland Park where Mosher’s body currently rests, Sander’s Justice Center which was his primary police station, and the site of his death.
Police encouraged members of the public to line the vigil route while practicing social distancing. Residents and business are encouraged to light the city in blue.
Family, friends and the public will be able to pay their respects from their vehicles to Mosher and his family during a “Drive by Visitation” from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Overland Park Convention Center, 6000 College Boulevard.
Visitation will be held under the canopy of the 110th Street entrance to the convention center.
A private funeral for Mosher will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday inside the Overland Park Convention Center. The funeral is open only to family, friends and members of the Overland Park Police Department.
A walking funeral procession will follow the funeral services. The public is invited to view the procession as it heads west along College Boulevard and then south on Metalf Avenue to the entrance of Johnson County Funeral Chapel and Memorial Gardens at 11200 Metcalf.
A private graveside service is planned for family and friends.
