Officer James Glenn was killed in a helicopter accident.

On January 10, 1969 at 1:21 pm, Officer James W. Glenn was practicing the autorotation maneuver with the department helicopter, attempting to land at the Kansas City Timing Association drag strip near Front Street and the old Manchester (now Southern), southeast of the Chouteau Bridge. During the maneuver Officer Glenn lost control of the Hughers 300 helicopter tail rotor failed and the craft began to spin, falling freely about 150 feet before it crashed and burst into a ball of flame three seconds later, killing Officer Glenn. His body was found pinned beneath the wreckage. The Units three Helicopters had been procurred from the Hughes Tool Company approximately eight months prior to the crash and had established KCPD as being the the first major department with 24 hour helicopter service.

Officer Glenn joined the Kansas City Police Department on July 16, 1960, and graduated from the police academy November 1960. Officer Glenn was with the department for nine years, serving with the department's tactical unit prior to being assigned to the Helicopter Unit November 1, 1968. He had 30 hours of flying time since he had been assigned to the Unit and was on his first solo flight at the time of the crash. He was a Navy veteran, and was survived by his wife, Mary, two sons and a daughter. Interred: Floral Hills Funeral Home and Cemetery, Kansas City, Missouri.