Fallen Trooper from Liberal to be Honored and His Story

This legislative session, Senate Bill 375 was passed through the Kansas Legislature, and signed into law by Governor Jeff Colyer, designating memorial highways for the Kansas Highway Patrol’s 10 fallen troopers, and one Johnson County Sheriff’s Master Deputy.

An event honoring the Patrol’s 10 fallen troopers will be held at the Kansas State Fair and will be attended by family members of the troopers who will be honored. Governor Jeff Colyer and Colonel Mark Bruce will speak at the event, which will also be attended by current and retired KHP personnel.

The KHP Memorial Highway Event Honoring Our 10 Fallen Troopers will be held on Thursday, September 13, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. on the Kansas State Fair Grounds outside of Lair White House, 2000 N. Poplar St.in Hutchinson, Kansas

Additionally, over the next several weeks, the Patrol will be hosting events around the state near where each trooper is buried. The first event will be honoring Trooper Conroy O’Brien and will be Thursday afternoon following the main opening event.

Included in these ceremonies is a Trooper from Liberal. Trooper Jimmie Jacobs of Liberal is buried in the Liberal Cemetery, Liberal KS. The ceremony will be held on October 3rd at 10:00am at the cemetery. Highway 54 Meade to Plains will be named in his honor.The public is invited to the ceremony.

Trooper Jimmie Jacobs Story:

Jimmie Dewayne Jacobs was born in Beaver, Oklahoma, on May 7, 1933. He attended Liberal High School in Liberal, Kansas, and graduated in 1951. Jacobs served in the United States Air Force from 1951 to 1955.

Jacobs joined the Patrol on July 16, 1956. After field training in Ulysses, he was stationed in Wellington. He transferred to El Dorado in 1959.

On October 6, 1959, Jacobs was on an emergency run, transporting blood needed for immediate surgery in Eureka. Jacobs picked up the blood from a trooper at the El Dorado Turnpike gate and was rushing east on U.S. 54 to relay the blood to a Greenwood County Sheriff’s Deputy.

Approximately 7 miles east of El Dorado, Jacobs passed a semi truck and was starting to pass a 1½-ton grain truck when it turned left in front of his patrol car. Jacobs struck the truck, entered the ditch, and struck a telephone pole. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The blood was recovered from the wrecked patrol car and relayed to the hospital. The physician later credited Trooper Jacobs and the Patrol for playing a major role in saving his patient.

Trooper Jacobs was survived by his wife and 3-month-old daughter.