A Kansas man accused of killing a Kansas City, Missouri, police officer, a pedestrian, and a K-9 in a crash has changed his plea to guilty.
Man Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter in Deaths of Missouri Officer, Pedestrian
Twenty-year-old Jerron Lightfoot had a court hearing Friday where he pleaded guilty two counts of first-degree involuntary manslaughter in the 2023 deaths of 42-year-old Kansas City Officer James Muhlbauer and 52-year-old Jesse Eckes.

Kansas City, Missouri, Officer James Muhlbauer and his K-9 champ were killed in a 2023 crash. The man responsible for their deaths has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter.
Kansas City PD
Twenty-year-old Jerron Lightfoot had a court hearing Friday where he pleaded guilty two counts of first-degree involuntary manslaughter in the 2023 deaths of 42-year-old Kansas City Officer James Muhlbauer and 52-year-old Jesse Eckes.
Muhlbauer’s K9, Champ, also died in the crash, but Lightfoot was not charged in the dog’s death, Fox 4 KC reports.
Lightfoot is scheduled for sentencing on April 24.
More Patrol
Tips for Watching the Hands
How can officers better “watch the hands”? Mike Willis, Law Enforcement National Training and Program Director for the US Deputy Sheriff's Association, shares some tips.
Read More →10 Tips for Felony/High-Risk Stops
What steps can officers take to stay safer during felony or high-risk vehicle stops? Here are 10 tips from Mike Willis, Law Enforcement National Training and Program Director for the US Deputy Sheriff's Association.
Read More →
Amped Highlights Power Behind Amped FIVE Software
Amped FIVE empowers you to advance your investigations with confidence and precision, from the crime scene all the way to the courtroom.
Read More →
Police K-9 Killed, Suspect Dies in Shootout with Cops
A Burbank Police Department K-9 was fatally shot over the weekend by a passenger who fled on foot from a traffic stop. The armed suspect was killed in a shootout with officers.
Read More →From the Show Floor: InVeris
In this video, learn about how InVeris provides training to law enforcement, including customized augmented reality scenarios. The augmented reality system can scan up to 10,000 square feet of real-life environments and create a curriculum based on those spaces.
Read More →From the Show Floor: Polaris Government & Defense
Learn about Polaris Government & Defense in this video as POLICE visits their show booth to discover their side-by-sides and the advantages they provide for agencies.
Read More →
2026 Ford Pro™ Police & Special Service Vehicles Guide is Available for Download
Ford Pro™ meets the needs of law-enforcement agencies
Read More →
Dashcam Video Shows Officers Rescue Man from Burning Car
Dashcam video released by a New Jersey police department shows two of its officers rescuing an unconscious man from a burning car after a crash.
Read More →
Aimpoint COA optic + A-CUT Named Red Dot of the Year
The Aimpoint COA optic + A-CUT system has been named Red Dot of the Year by Guns & Ammo magazine. The new optic system was introduced in January 2025.
Read More →From the Show Floor: Axon
Join POLICE as we visit with Abi Stock, of Axon, to learn about the company’s latest technology offerings, such as Axon Assistant, Form One, and the DFR integration with Skydio.
Read More →
