© 2024 Kansas City Public Radio
NPR in Kansas City
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Nearly two years after being shot in the head, Kansas City police officer defies the odds

Ways To Subscribe
Officer Tyler Moss is the brain injury honoree at this year's Going the Distance for Brain Injury Run at Loose Park on Memorial Day.
Kansas City Police Department
Officer Tyler Moss is the brain injury honoree at this year's Going the Distance for Brain Injury Run at Loose Park on Memorial Day.

In July of 2020, Kansas City, Missouri police officer Tyler Moss was shot in the line of duty. Once given a 1% chance to live, he is now thriving as he continues recovering from the traumatic brain injury the gunshot wound caused.

On July 2nd, 2020, Kansas City police officer Tyler Moss was dispatched to the scene of the McDonald's at 31st and Van Brunt, where a man was brandishing a gun. Following a quick chase after arriving on the scene, the suspect began firing his weapon at the police.

Officer Moss was shot just to the right of his right eye, the bullet lodging in his head. Another officer subsequently shot and killed the gunman. Moss was rushed to the hospital where doctors considered it unlikely that he would live.

Miraculously, Moss not only survived the incident, he's now teaching and mentoring at the Kansas City Regional Police Academy. Along the way, there was no shortage of struggles to overcome as he had to relearn things like tying his shoes and bathing himself.

"I was in a wheelchair for the first month. I had to relearn how to walk and, when I say relearn how to walk, I mean, like, step-by-step," says Moss. "Like, getting up out of my chair, to taking my first steps again, and then to progressing to ultimately being able to run now and do everything else."

Moving forward, Moss hopes to spend much of his time sharing his story with others.

"I really think ultimately I was put on this earth to inspire people and help people out," he says. "I really want to get into motivational speaking."

This year, Moss is being honored as the brain injury honoree at the 35th annual Going the Distance for Brain Injury Run on Memorial Day morning at Loose Park.

  • Tyler Moss, Kanas City, Missouri, police officer recovering from traumatic brain injury

Going the Distance for Brain Injury Run, 8 a.m. Monday, May 30 at Loose Park, located at the corner of 51st Street and Wornall Road in Kansas City.

Stay Connected
When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.
As Up To Date’s senior producer, I construct daily conversations that give our listeners context to the issues of our time. I strive to provide a platform that holds those in power accountable, while also spotlighting the voices of Kansas City’s creatives and visionaries that may otherwise go unheard. Email me at zach@kcur.org.
KCUR serves the Kansas City region with breaking news and award-winning podcasts.
Your donation helps keep nonprofit journalism free and available for everyone.