Roll of Honor
Joseph Burch Loper
Incident
Location: Texas Incident Date: Wednesday, October 20, 1920 Weapon: Handgun Offender: Sentenced to life
Special Officer Joseph Loper was shot and killed in Forth Worth, Texas, when a criminal mistook him for a citizen and attempted to rob him at about 8:00 pm.
Officer Loper was walking through the Texas and Pacific Railroad rail yards, between South Main Street and Railroad Avenue, at the time. When the man pulled out a gun, Officer Loper attempted to arrest him but was shot twice. He was taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds the following morning.
The man who murdered Officer Loper was arrested and sentenced to death. The sentence was later commuted to life.
Officer Loper had served with the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad Police Department for two years.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-RR-A3D126D7- 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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Special Officer Loper gave the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the St. Louis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Officer Loper.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Officer Joseph Burch Loper 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 MI, 426 of 718 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.3% of this state's fallen. That is 5.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad Police Department, 4 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph Burch Loper's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph Burch Loper Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Burch Loper is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph Burch Loper was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
