Sergeant Eric Bjorkback was fatally injured in a vehicle pursuit of robbery suspects.

Sergeant Bjorkback and police chaeffeur L.E. Wyatt were in a scout car when they spotted a car at 55th and Prospect matching the description of a vehicle used in three robberies. The officers pursued the stolen vehicle for twenty-five miles. Gunfire was exchanged near 87th Street and Raytown Road as the officers had nearly overtaken the vehicle when L. E. Wyatt hit a depression in the road, lost control of the scout car that overturned on the gravel roadway. L. E. Wyatt was injured suffering a broken collarbone and Sergeant Bjorkback was thrown from the vehicle. Sergeant Bjorkback died from his injuries, including a fractured skull, while being transported by ambulance to Menorah Hospital. Robbery suspects John Muehlebach and Charles Frazier were apprehended in Rosebud, Missouri after a filling station operator noticed bullet holes in their vehicle. Both suspects made confessions of their crimes. Muehlebach was sentenced to 10 years for each of 9 counts of armed robbery to be served consecutively in the penitentiary.

Sergeant Bjorkback, 57, born in Sweden served with the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department for 29 years. He was survived by his wife, Esther, and son, Willard. Interred: Mount Moriah Cemetery.

Article by Brent Marchant