KANSAS CITY, Kan. — In the wake of tragedy, members of the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department are paying tribute and remembering fallen officer Hunter Simoncic, who was struck and killed by a driver during a police chase early Tuesday morning.

According to KCKPD, Officer Simonsic was a 26-year-old native of Galesburg, Kansas, who graduated from the police academy in November 2023.

Before coming to the metro and training at the KCKPD Academy, he received a Bachelor of Science in sociology from Pittsburg State University and a Masters in forensic science from Oklahoma State University.

While at the academy, KCK Police Chief Karl Oakman said all trainees had to write a short excerpt describing why they wanted to join the force.

"I want to take what I have learned in life to make positi

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