Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief of Detective Jessie Laster was shot and killed by a bootlegger seven miles northwest of Joplin at about 9:30 pm. He was taking a car ride with his wife, young son, aunt, and uncle. They had driven to the Spring River, just over the line in Kansas, and turned around after crossing the bridge. As they started back across the bridge a man stepped from the bushes and ordered them to stop. The man claimed to be an officer and that he was looking for a bootlegger. Chief Laster identified himself as chief of detectives and started to step from his car when the man shot him in the head, killing him. His wife drove him to a hospital in Joplin where he was pronounced dead. On May 13, 1927, a Missouri prison inmate confessed to murdering Detective Laster and named a fellow inmate as an accomplice. Both were serving terms for burglary and larceny they committed three months earlier in Miami. Both were immediately paroled, turned over to Kansas authorities, and charged with murder. Three days later both pleaded guilty to murder in Columbus, Kansas, and sentenced to life.
Survivors
Chief Laster was survived by his wife, two sons, and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-D0365718- 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.
Chief of Detectives Laster served with the Joplin Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Joplin community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Detectives Laster.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Detectives Jessie Laster 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Jessie Laster's cause is highlighted.
How Jessie Laster Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jessie Laster is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Jessie Laster was killed by gun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
20 officers from Joplin Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
