How is it that a Kansas City firefighter drowned during a water rescue training exercise surrounded by other firefighters at a swimming pool in Gladstone last year, and the public never knew about it until now?

Answer: The Kansas City Fire Department has kept the circumstances of 33-year-old Kyle Brinker’s death a secret for the past 11 months.

This week, The Star found out what happened that day. Not only did Brinker drown, but the firefighters at the training didn’t have the proper emergency equipment on hand to try to resuscitate him, according to an autopsy report and emergency radio traffic.

Three sources within the fire department with knowledge of the incident who spoke on the condition of anonymity told The Star that the training event was not authorized. Had it been, its orga

See Full Page