Officer Richard Reeves received fatal injuries when his police motorcycle was struck by another vehicle.

On September 21, 1957 at approximately 2:55 p.m., Officer Reeves was traveling eastbound on 9th Street at Prospect when a truck ran the red light from the south and struck Officer Reeves' motorcycle Officer Reeves sustained severe head injuries and several broken bones. Officer Reeves died from his injuries on October 2, 1957 at Mennorah Hospital.

Officer Reeves, 33, had been with the Kansas City Police Department for three years and was survived by his wife, Ethel Reeves, and son. Interred: Mound Grove Cemetery.