Honoring Deputies

Captain Chris Arnold

Captain Chris Arnold

We regret to inform the public that our beloved brother Captain Chris Arnold was killed by gunshot last night at his residence. This was not a line of duty death, but a suspect has been taken into custody. On Monday, October 7, 2019 Chris would have been 59 years old. Please keep his family and us in your prayers as we work through this tragedy.

Services for Captain Chris Arnold

The visitation will be at Memorial Hall on 600 N 7th Street KCKS 66101 at 1800 to 2000 hours on Friday, October 11, 2019.

The funeral will be at the same place on Saturday, October 12, 2019 at 1100 hours.

Remarks from Sheriff Don Ash

By now, I’m sure you all are aware of the tragic death Saturday evening of CPT Chris Arnold. Life is hard in one way or another on many occasions, and it’s hard to make sense of events such as these. I learned a long time ago that it is futile to ask “why” such things happen, especially to really good people. It times like these I find both comfort and meaning in the Bible. King Solomon has often been referred to as one of the wisest men to ever live, and has written that wisdom down for all of us to consider. In his writings from the book of Ecclesiastes he teaches in Chapter 3:1 – “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.” Verses 2-8 go on to list some of those purposes, including “A time to be born, and a time to die; and A time to mourn, and a time to dance…”

The entire book has an overarching theme of, “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” But at the end of the book, the wise man says, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter; Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.” I believe this about CPT Chris Arnold, he was a man of integrity who loved his family, especially his son Zach, and served his community and this agency – and we should honor that – and we will. I don’t think I will ever forget Chris Arnold and those of you that knew him, even for a short period of time, probably won’t forget him either. Let’s pull together in this difficult time and bring honor to Chris’ life and service.

And I’m also going to ask you to find a way in your own heart and in your own way to forgive Zach for this terrible deed. Those of you that know about Zach and his “demons” will know what I’m talking about. But I believe with all of my heart and mind that Chris would want us to forgive Zach, and he would be forever grateful if we could find a way to take care of him. I’ll be putting information out about the services as we work with Chris’ sisters to make those arrangements. Until then, please keep Chris’s extended family, and especially Zach in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you...


Deputies T. King & P. Rohrer

Deputies King and Rohrer

Law enforcement agencies throughout the state of Kansas as well as counties and cities from the region attended the funeral service of Deputy Patrick Rohrer and Theresa King at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, KS on June 21st, 2018.

Remarks from Sheriff Don Ash

There are some things that you just can't do without suffering-very literally and profoundly-casualties, and our job is one of them. You can't race cars without crashes, you can't dig mines without cave-ins, and you sure as hell can't send cops out into the streets of a violent society without violent deaths.

Our fallen brothers knew that and did it anyway--as we all do or have done. ........ Their friends will tell you they did the job because they loved it, and any of us who can't say that should envy them for it. At least they died as rare and precious people: doing what they loved to do, and doing it for the noblest of reasons. That is something we can never explain outside of our profession.

You see, you can't be a good cop simply because you couldn't get another job. You can only be a good cop because you want it. And there is an answer as to why they died, something I learned half a world away many years ago as a young Marine, preparing to face an enemy in combat for the first time. It was then that my sergeant explained that, like it or not, there are only three rules in war:

Rule Number One is "YOUNG MEN DIE"
Rule Number Two is "YOU CAN'T CHANGE RULE #1"
Rule Number Three is "SOMEBODY HAS TO WALK THE POINT"

You see, when soldiers advance, knowing the enemy is near, there is always one man way out in front of everyone else. His duty is to look and listen and sense that first contact; to spot the enemy, pinpoint the ambush, fire that first shot, and as a consequence, take those first shots. It offends the logical mind and denies the instinct for survival. It ages and saddens and wizens, and frequently kills those who take their turn "Walking the Point". But it must be done, or there would be no protection for the rest, just more bloodshed, and more grief. For the "Point Man" is there to save lives, even if he gives his own in the process.

Society may not be a company of soldiers, but it certainly has (and needs) somebody walking the point. Every time you go out the station door, every time you answer the radio call, every time you stop to check out something suspicious, and remember... YOU CAN'T CHANGE RULE #1.

If I could say something directly to the people in our society, it would be this. I know some of you will remember our brothers, but that's not good enough. I want you to honor them for what they did for you that which they needn't have done. I'm not just talking about what they did on the day that "routine" call or stop went horribly bad. I mean what they did for you day after day, in darkness and light, rain or shine, on holidays and on their loved ones' birthdays, without ever expecting even a "thank you" in return.

They volunteered to "Walk the Point".

- Vernon Geberth

Candlelight Vigil

Candlelight Vigil It was a somber evening during a candlelight vigil held Sunday evening in front of City Hall to remember and honor two KCK heroes; Wyandotte County Sheriff Deputies Patrick Rohrer and Theresa King.

Friends and strangers alike gathered in support to console one another during this difficult time. Instead of focusing on the tragic incident that shocked the city, Mayor David Alvey and Sheriff Donald Ash spoke on the goodness of each deputy and their commitment to serving and protecting their community.

Community Shows Support

Community Support When it came time to lighting the candles at the end of the vigil, there was a light calm breeze that swept thorough One McDowell Plaza preventing many from lighting their candles.

Mayor David Alvey asked the crowd to pull out their cell phones and turn on their lights and hold them in the air. The lights from the phones could be seen along 7th street and shined even brighter in remembrance of two heroes that will never be forgotten.

Words of Comfort & Forgiveness

Comfort Forgive Sheriff Donald Ash provided touching remarks to the family, to members of law enforcement and the community during the candle light vigil.

He reminded those who have committed to the career of in law enforcement to remember the oath and to stay true to it like Deputies Patrick Rohrer and Theresa King. He quoted scriptures from the Old Testament and shared a letter that one of his Deputies wrote following the incident.

Mayor Alvey Remembers KCK Heroes During Candlelight Vigil

Mayor Speech

 

“We gather tonight to remember two of our fallen heroes, Deputy Theresa “TK” King, and Deputy Patrick Rohrer.

We come together to express our thanks to them and to their families for giving their very lives to protect each one of us.

We come together to comfort and to console the families of Patrick and Theresa, to comfort and to console their fellow law enforcement officers, to comfort and to console all those who knew them, and who now must go on without them.

We all know that our words of comfort and consolation cannot replace the sound of their voices, the smiles on their faces, and the touch of their hands. Our words seem powerless, our hugs seem small, and even our tears for Patrick and Theresa and for one another do not fully express just how sad we feel and how deeply we care.

But God our Father knows what is moving in our hearts, Our Father knows that we would move heaven and earth to make this all right, Our Father knows how deeply and powerfully we desire to bring to one another the goodness that each one of us hungers for at this very moment.

God our Father knows what is moving in our hearts because it is his own spirit that moves. In the very depths of our souls the Holy Spirit is moving us to reach out to one another with simple, kind words, the Holy Spirit is moving us to reach out to one another with simple, kind embraces, the Holy Spirit is blessing our tears to transform them into waters of a recreation.

We are here tonight because we hunger for goodness and justice, and we hunger for goodness and justice because God our Father desires it for us.

He is quite aware, even more so than we are, that we do not have within us the power to make everything whole again, and so He gathers up all that we feel and desire and hunger for and he multiplies our words and our embraces and our tears, and he fulfills our desires.

And so, this evening, we make an offering of all of our gestures to one another, and we ask our God to bless them and to multiply them, so that through the power of God we all may be filled. It is God’s will, and it will be done.”

- David Alvey
  Mayor/CEO Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, KS

Mayor's Statement: June 16th, 2018

As we all know yesterday was a terribly tragic day for two of our young, bright, committed Sheriff’s Deputies, Theresa “TK” King, and Patrick Rohrer. TK and Patrick gave their lives for us, and they did so fully aware and willing to do so.

Let us take just one moment of silence to honor their sacrifices and the sacrifices of their families.

Let us also express gratitude, on behalf of our community, to all those who stepped up to respond to this incident: the members of the Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Department, the Kansas City Kansas Police Department, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, the University of Kansas Police Department and their security personnel. When their fellow officers were taken down, they set aside their own feelings in order to fulfill their sworn duty, and that in itself is a heroic act. We also must thank the members of the Kansas City Kansas Fire Department as they responded to the tragic scene. Thank you.

I also would like to thank the staff of the University of Kansas Hospital, whose compassionate professionalism yesterday was a great gift to all of us who had gathered there.

On behalf of our community, I also thank the people of the greater Kansas City area and beyond: the outpouring of support from our region and our nation and beyond consoles the families of Patrick and TK; it consoles their fellow law enforcement officers and their families, it consoles all of us who grieve.

So we stand here today with so many emotions coursing through our guts: shock that this should happen again, deep sadness that it has happened, worry for their family members and close friends, fear, especially by their fellow law enforcement personnel and their families, that it could happen to them, and of course feelings of anger and revenge towards the assailant.

The questions run through our minds: Why did this happen again? And how? Who will provide for and care for their loved ones? What can we do, how can we care for their fellow deputies and law enforcement officers, for those who knew them in the Courthouse, in the hallways and the offices and courtrooms, in their neighborhoods? How will we honor and memorialize their sacrifices? How do we make this right, how do we bring justice to them and to their families and to the community of Wyandotte County?

These questions are already being answered. Friends are stepping in to care for loved ones, counseling is being offered to those who grieve, a vigorous police investigation began immediately at the scene, and we will begin to formally honor and memorialize Deputy King and Deputy Rohrer with a Candlelight vigil, conducted by the Sheriff’s Department, tomorrow evening, Sunday, at 8 pm in front of City Hall.

As we move forward from this moment we will work through our emotions and our questions will be answered: I challenge each one of us to move forward with the same spirit of self-giving that TK and Patrick showed to us yesterday.

But let us be clear: Deputy King and Deputy Rohrer did not just offer to us the total gift of themselves yesterday: they did it each and every day that they stepped out into the community. A sheriff’s deputy and a police officer do not simply say to themselves: I have an eight-hour shift today, and I will do my duty for those eight hours alone. No: when they are sworn into their office, they embrace this truth: that they are sworn to protect and defend the public at all times and at every place. As we know, in March 2015 Deputy Scott Wood was shot multiple times on his way home to his family after his shift had ended. In November 2017, Captain Michael Howell stepped in to defend the public at the Costco in Lenexa, Kansas. Our law enforcement officers step up, and step into the battle for justice, no matter when or where the battle is joined.

And so, as we work through all of our emotions, as we try to find answers to all of our questions, we must look to the sacrifices of Deputy Rohrer and Deputy King and believe what they believed: that the fight for goodness and truth and justice is worth our very lives, every day of our lives, and we must be ever-vigilant for the battle.

“Heroes are never forgotten!”

- David Alvey
 Mayor/CEO Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, KS

 

Order your Remembrance T-shirt

Donations

Anyone wishing to make cash donations to the Rohrer or King families can do so at the locations listed below. Each Deputy has a separate fund setup at the credit union. If someone wishes to make the donations at the Sheriff’s Office they will be accepted at the front desk (Sheriff Admin). We will take those donations to the bank daily. When donations are accepted it needs to be clearly identified as to which Deputy the money is to be credited to. Those writing checks should make the checks payable to one of the funds below.

  • Greater KC Public Safety Credit Union
  • Theresa King Memorial Fund or Patrick Rohrer Memorial Fund

Main Branch
2800 E. 14th Street
Kansas City, MO 64127-0020

North Branch
8320 North Brighton
Kansas City, MO 64119

East Branch
19341 E US 40 Hwy, Ste A
Independence, MO 64055

South Branch
9701 Marion Park Drive
Kansas City, MO 64137

Overland Park Branch
7721 W 123rd Street
Overland Park, KS 66213

Merchandise Donations

Message Max Sybrant the President of FOP Lodge 40 on Facebook at Wyandotte County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 40.

In Memoriam

We respectfully pay tribute to those Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Deputies whose lives were cut tragically short while serving in the line of duty.

James Reynolds 8/4/1986
Thomas Medina 3/4/1956
Wesley Walden 11/19/1955
Maurice Bedell 8/29/1954
Frank Rohrbach 1931