OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — Overland Park Police Officer Mike Mosher served his community in more ways than one.
Until his death Sunday in an exchange of gunfire with a suspect, he was the President of the Overland Park Fraternal Order of Police. But, his service to the community didn't stop there.
In 2018, Officer Mosher was involved with an active shooter. He was on patrol on July 6, 2018, with another officer working on a theft investigation around the area of 79th and Frontage Road in Overland Park, when a call came in of a man with a large gun shooting at people.
The two officers were a mile away and decided to go to the scene. Both officers formed a plan on their way there.
When they arrived, the officers asked the suspect to drop his AK-47 rifle with a large magazine. Instead, the man started to shoot at them 50-60 yards away. Both moved in closer to the man, detailing the event saying they could hear whizzing sound of bullets flying right by their heads.
Officer Mosher began to return fire, as his partner Officer Caniglia got closer to the shooter. The two continued to tell the man to put down his weapon, instead he shot at police. Caniglia shot back and the shooter dropped his weapon. The shooter was injured and having a hard time breathing so the men went into life saving mode. The shooter was transported to the hospital, where he died of his injuries.
From the time the officers arrived to the shooter putting down his gun only lasted 45 seconds. Both Mosher and his partner did not know at the time this man had an extensive violent criminal history and an arrest warrant for murder.
In November, Mosher and Caniglia were honored by the Metro Chiefs and Sheriffs Association with the Gold Awards for Valor.
The fallen officer also had a passion to helping others. With being the president of the FOP, he organized events such as shop with a cop, trunk or treat and was a field training officer.
Centerfire Shooting Sports has organized a memorial fund for Mosher's family.
