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Bert Brannon
Agency patch
Patrolman

Bert Brannon

Joplin Police Department — Joplin, MO
Felonious
United States flag Missouri flag
End of Watch April 24, 1901
Age 27
The Vigil Panel 17 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 20

Incident

Patrolman Bert Brannon and Patrolman James Sweeney were shot and killed by a group of vagrants they had just arrested from the Kansas City Railroad yards. They were walking the seven men to jail along with a third officer. As they neared the intersection of Second Street and Main Street, a half-block from the jail, one of the men suddenly produced a revolver and opened fire. Patrolman Sweeney and Patrolman Brannon were both fatally wounded. Patrolman Brannon is buried in Fairview Cemetery, Joplin, Missouri.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
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August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Brannon served with the Joplin Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Joplin community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Brannon.

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

Agency

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

Service Record

End of Watch April 24, 1901
Age 27
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Bert is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1901, 90 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 66th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Bert was 27. 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.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

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.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Joplin Police Department has 21 officers remembered here, Bert among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Bert Brannon

Joplin Police Department · End of Watch April 24, 1901

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 2-E

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