Claude Brice
Agency patch
Patrolman

Claude Brice

Joplin Police Department — Joplin, MO
Felonious
End of Watch December 31, 1904
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
The Vigil Panel 19 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Claude Brice was shot and killed while investigating a burglary. He had gone to a business after receiving information that a burglary was to take place that night. He observed three suspicious men and began to chase them along Main Street, two blocks from the police station. One of the men opened fire, fatally wounding him near the intersection of Main Street and Second Street. Three men were arrested for Patrolman Brice's murder and sentenced to long prison terms. Two of the men later escaped. Patrolman Brice's killer, one of the men who escaped, had been sentenced to 40 years in prison. On February 27th, 1905, he was captured in Shreveport, Louisiana. He was granted a new trial, convicted of second-degree murder, and sentenced to 55 years. He was paroled in 1919. Patrolman Brice had served with the Joplin Police Department for two years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-51DD5EB8
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Brice gave the Joplin Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Joplin community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Brice.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Joplin, Jasper County, MO
Platform Identity jpd.jasper.mo.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 31, 1904
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Patrolman Claude Brice is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 63.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Joplin Police Department, 17 of 21 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 81% of this agency's fallen.

Joplin Police Department
17
of 21 officers
81% Felonious
MO — Statewide
516
of 813 officers
63.5% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Claude Brice's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Claude Brice Compares

Years of Service
2
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Claude Brice is highlighted in Dec.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Claude Brice was killed by gun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location