KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – A fallen Kansas City police officer will be honored by Missouri leaders.

The names of Ofc. James Muhlbauer and K-9 Champ will be among the fallen officers whose names will be added to the Missouri Law Enforcement Memorial’s Wall of Honor Saturday in Jefferson City.

They will also be honored during a candlelight vigil at the memorial Friday evening.

Muhlbauer and Champ died on Feb. 15, 2023, while on patrol. Jerron Lightfoot, 20, was speeding and ran a red light before he hit Muhlbauer’s police vehicle. The collision also killed 52-year-old Jesse Eckes, who was walking nearby.

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Last week, a Jackson County judge sentenced Lightfoot to 10-years in prison.

Before Lightfoot was sentenced, he took full responsibility for the tragedy and he hopes that the families can forgive him.

There are three other officers who will also be honored during the weekend’s ceremonies.

Hermann Police Department Detective Sergeant Mason E. Griffith was shot and killed by a gunman after Griffith while responding to a call at a convenience store. Griffith died March 12, 2023.

Kelly Rolando died in a head-on crash Oct. 22, 2023. He worked for the Missouri Department Corrections at Northeast Correctional Center in Bowling Green, Mo.

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Missouri Department of Corrections Functional Unit Manager Jason Pulliam died on Oct. 15, 2021. He passed away after contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty.

Friday’s candlelight service will take place at the Law Enforcement Memorial at the Missouri State Capitol on North Capitol Drive in Jefferson City. The service begins at 8 p.m.

Saturday’s memorial service will be held at the same location. The service begins at 10 a.m. and will also be livestreamed on the Department of Public Safety Facebook page.

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Missouri law allows a block of 42 credit hours to transfer between the state’s public colleges and universities. Rep. Cameron Parker, R-Campbell, is sponsoring a bill that would expand the number of college credits that can transfer in-state to possibly 60 hours.

“By statute, that four-year institution is only required to take the 42 hours,” Parker told Missourinet. “So, what we are seeing is problems with one, parents paying for duplicate classes, which is expensive to the student if they’re paying for it themselves. It’s expensive to the parent if the parent is having to assist. Also, they’re repeating classes.”

Parker is proposing to have Missouri’s Coordinating Board for Higher Education work with the public colleges and universities to increase the block of transferable hours for at least five degree programs.

“You know, we want a seamless transfer,” said Parker. “I mean that’s what we’re trying to do – a transition from a community college to a four-year (college) where you don’t pay extra money. It helps your students; it helps your parents. And I think it’s good for colleges to be able to work together to say, ‘we’ll take your students.’”

The block is for lower-division courses.

“You’re taking 60 anyway with a community college,” said Parker. “That’s your requirement. That’s the magic number to get out of a community college with an AA degree, or an Associate’s degree. We’re trying to make all of those hours transfer over.”

Paul Wagner, executive director of Missouri’s Council on Public Higher Education, said the bill could exclude students outside of popular degree programs. He also he would prefer the bill to be broad because he said getting each college to agree on a 60-credit-hour program would be a big chore.

With the House unanimously passing Parker’s bill, the next order of business is Senate debate.

Fewer than three weeks remain in the Missouri Legislature’s regular session and many bills are waiting on the Senate to make a move.

For more information on House Bill 2310, click here.

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