Sergeant Jack Shepley and Officer Stephen Faulkner were killed when their police helicopter crashed.
On Tuesday, December 1, 1992 at 8:51 p.m. Police Officer Stephen Faulkner, who was serving as Spotter, and Sergeant Jack Shepley, Pilot, were in the air for about 20 minutes in their Schweizer 300c helicopter, when they were dispatched to assist officers involved in a foot chase. On their way to the call, Officer Faulkner radioed an emergency to the dispatcher and that they were going down near 23rd & Topping. Emergency equipment responded to the crash site finding the helicopter in flames and that the two officers were killed in the crash.
Sergeant Shepley joined the Kansas City Police Department in 1976 after working with the Clay County Sheriff's Department. Sergeant Shepley's assignments included the Canine Unit and the Helicopter Unit where supervised of one of the two flight crews. He is survived by his wife, He is survived by his wife, Linda Shepley, and a son, Ryan Shepley, both of the home; his parents, Laurel and Dorothy Shepley of Ottumwa; two brothers, Alan Shepley, Mount Vernon, Iowa, and Rohn Shepley, Spirit Lake, Iowa; a sister, Rene Ragan, Morristown, N.J.; and his paternal grandmother, Eva Stevens, Ottumwa. Interred: Moriah Cemetery Park, Kansas City North.
Officer Faulkner began his career at the St. Joseph Police Department then joined the Kansas City Police Department. Officer Faulkner's assignments included the East Patrol Division, the Canine Unit and the Helicopter Unit. Officer Faulkner is survived by his wife, Mary Faulkner, and two sons, Nathaniel Faulkner and Nicholas Faulkner, all of the home; his parents, Richard and Sarah Faulkner of Camdenton, Mo.; two brothers, Rick Blanding, Largo, Fla., and David Faulkner, Camdenton, three sisters, Jamie Heermann, and Robin Cowart of Lebanon, Mo., and Kelly Guess, St. Joseph; and his paternal grandfather, M.C. Faulkner, Hayden Lake, Idaho. Interred: Moriah Cemetery Park, Kansas City North.
Missouri Law Enforcement Memorial