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Incident
Sergeant Daniel Sheehan was shot and killed as he attempted to arrest a man who was wanted for selling liquor without a license. He saw the wanted man come out of the Post Office at the intersection of Second Street and Main Street. Sergeant Sheehan had been told not to arrest the man alone because the man had previously threatened to kill him. After seeing him, Sergeant Sheehan summoned the city marshal and a sheriff's deputy to the intersection to formulate a plan after the man walked into a store at the intersection. When the officers attempted to arrest the man, the subject produced a pistol and shot Sergeant Sheehan. An angry mob of citizens captured the suspect and lynched him. Sergeant Sheehan had served with the Joplin Police Department for eight years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
141 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Sergeant Sheehan gave the Joplin Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Joplin community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Joplin Police Department has lost 21 officers; 17 of them killed feloniously.
Daniel is one of 527 officers killed feloniously in MO, 63.6% of the 829 remembered there.
Daniel is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Daniel is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1885, 1 officer at Joplin Police Department was killed feloniously, the 4th heaviest of 14 years on record. The heaviest was 1901, with 2.
In 1885, 2 officers in MO were killed feloniously, the 81st heaviest of 146 years on record. The heaviest was 1920, with 16.
In 1885, 62 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 121st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1885, 66 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 117th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Daniel was 56. Of the 13 killed feloniously at Joplin Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 32 and 46; the middle age was 42. Daniel had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 6.5 years.
Daniel was 56. Of the 477 killed feloniously in MO whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 48; the middle age was 39. Daniel had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Daniel was 56. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Daniel had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Daniel was 56. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Daniel had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
July holds 5.9% of these deaths at Joplin Police Department; December holds the most, 23.5%. Sundays: 5.9%.
July holds 8.3% of these deaths in MO; December holds the most, 11%. Sundays: 16.9%.
July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.
July holds 9% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Sundays: 15.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 81% of all 21 deaths at Joplin Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 64.7% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 63.6% of all 829 deaths in MO, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 38% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 20.4% of these deaths.
His people
Joplin Police Department has 21 officers remembered here, Daniel among them.
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Daniel Sheehan
Jul 19, 1885
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James Sweeney
Apr 23, 1901
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Bert Brannon
Apr 24, 1901
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Theodore C. Leslie
Apr 14, 1903
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John Ledbetter
Jun 10, 1903
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Claude Brice
Dec 31, 1904
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William Smith
Nov 15, 1909
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Louis S. Wells Jun 3, 1916
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William Wolsey
Dec 8, 1917
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Jessie Laster
Aug 23, 1926
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Alex Brown
Dec 18, 1928
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Alexander C. Lachman
Jun 26, 1931
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Harry L. McGinnis
Apr 13, 1933
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Kendrick Lloyd
Apr 17, 1948
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Raymond Endicott
Oct 8, 1949
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Robert M. Clifton
Dec 5, 1967
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Paul Wesley Harlan
Dec 6, 1979
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Richard W. O. Gammill
Sep 7, 1989
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Timothy Andrew Nielson
Sep 13, 2004
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Benjamin Lee Cooper
Mar 8, 2022
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Jake Alexander Reed
Mar 9, 2022
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 62-W
What is kept
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Others Who Wore This Badge
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