Roll of Honor
Incident
Motorcycle Officer John Less was shot and killed by an ex-convict he was attempting to arrest at the intersection of 3rd Street and Felix Street. The man was wanted for escaping from officers the previous day while he was being arrested for drunk and disorderly conduct. The suspect was arrested, convicted of murder, and sentenced to life in prison on May 27th, 1924. He was paroled on January 20, 1953. Officer Less had served with the St. Joseph Police Department for one year.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-790FFF92- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
You barely got started.
Motorcycle Officer Less gave the St. Joseph Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the St. Joseph community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Motorcycle Officer Less.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Motorcycle Officer John F. Less is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 9.3 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At St. Joseph Police Department, 7 of 13 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John F. Less's cause is highlighted.
How John F. Less Compares
Offender Outcome
Paroled in 1953
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John F. Less is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John F. Less was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
12 officers from St. Joseph Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
