Names of Deputy Glenn Curtiss, Detective Charles Meeks added to state’s memorial
By TIM CARPENTER
Kansas Reflector
TOPEKA — Sarah Meeks said she was the one expected to perish in the head-on collision during a late-evening rainstorm on US-54 in southwest Kansas.
When an elderly motorist drifted across the yellow line at 9 p.m. May 5, 1976, about 2 miles east of Bucklin, Sarah Meeks woke up just in time to see blur of the oncoming car’s rapidly approaching headlights. Force of the impact threw her into the windshield and caused extensive head trauma. Her husband, Derby Police Department Detective Charles Meeks, initially was treated for a broken arm and shattered leg. But, tragically, Charles Meeks passed away four days later. His wife survived.
“I was the one who was supposed to be dead,” Sarah Meeks said. “When they did the autopsy, they found it was a brain bleed that did him in.”
Sarah Meeks recounted those harrowing moments Friday after the annual service in Topeka honoring men and women who had their names carved into the Kansas Law Enforcement Memorial on the Capitol grounds.
The 307th and 308th names etched into the circular memorial were that of Meeks, who died at age 34 while driving to a firearms competition as a representative of the police department, and Leavenworth County Deputy Sheriff Glenn Curtiss, who was shot and killed at age 26 during a scuffle with the suspect in an Oct. 29, 1924, bank robbery in Linwood.
Gov. Laura Kelly and Tony Mattivi, director of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, spoke of the state’s good fortune that no names would be added to pay tribute to law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice during 2024.
“Today, we’re fortunate that for the first time in several years we’re not mourning new line-of-duty deaths in Kansas. That is a blessing,” she said. “But it does not change the solemn responsibility we have to remember those that did give their lives. To all families of fallen officers, you carry a burden few can understand.”
Kelly said the service acknowledged courage demonstrated by law enforcement officers who responded to crimes, of course, but also intervened when people were stricken by mental illness, addiction, homelessness and other challenges evident in society.
The death of Meeks and Curtiss were memorialized in speech, prayer and song. A pipe and drum corps’ offered a rendition of “Amazing Grace.” A line of officers delivered the traditional 21-volley salute. More than 100 uniformed law enforcement officers from Kansas stood at attention on the memorial’s perimeter.
Mattivi, representing the KBI, said Kansans had a duty to recognize women and men who lost their lives while engaged in work to protect communities.
“We mourn the officers whose lives were cut short. We remember their sacrifices in the name of justice.” Mattivi said. “We promise to stand together as brothers and sisters in blue and do everything possible to avoid other senseless tragedies. To each of you, who stand in the same line of fire and risk your lives every single day, thank you.”
Sarah Meeks and her son, Charles, who was 9 years old when the detective died, joined other families in placing flowers on the memorial wall where names of the deceased reside. Both wife and son appreciated the opportunity, after nearly half a century, to take part in the commemoration of lives lost.
“We’ve been to Washington, D.C., and seen the name on the monument there,” Sarah Meeks said. “This is great. He always wanted to be in law enforcement.”