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Incident
Police Officer Jake Reed and Corporal Ben Cooper were shot and killed after responding to a disturbance call at a shopping center in the 400 block of Geneva Avenue at about 1:20 pm.
While he and another officer attempted to take a subject into custody the man opened fire on them, critically wounding both. The man then stole one of the officers' services weapons and a patrol car. He continued firing at pursuing officers until crashing near the intersection of E 9th Street and Connecticut Avenue.
The man then took cover behind a van and opened fire on a third officer who was still inside of his cruiser, severely wounding him. The man continued shooting at other responding officers until being fatally wounded by return fire.
Corporal Cooper and Officer Reed were transported to a local hospital where Corporal Cooper was pronounced dead a short time later. Officer Reed remained in grave condition for several days until it was determined that he could not recover. He remained on life support until his organs could be donated on March 11th, 2022.
Officer Reed had served with the Joplin Police Department for five years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
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- 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.
Police Officer Reed gave the Joplin Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Joplin community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Reed.
— 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.
Jake is one of 527 officers killed feloniously in MO, 63.6% of the 829 remembered there.
Jake is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Jake 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 2022, 2 officers at Joplin Police Department were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 2022, 4 officers in MO were killed feloniously, the 41st heaviest of 146 years on record. The heaviest was 1920, with 16.
In 2022, 79 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 86th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 2022, 84 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 81st heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Jake was 27. Of the 13 killed feloniously at Joplin Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 32 and 46; the middle age was 42. Jake had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6.5 years.
Jake was 27. Of the 477 killed feloniously in MO whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 48; the middle age was 39. Jake had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Jake 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. Jake had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Jake was 27. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Jake had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
March holds 11.8% of these deaths at Joplin Police Department; December holds the most, 23.5%. Wednesdays: 17.6%.
March holds 8% of these deaths in MO; December holds the most, 11%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.
March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.
March holds 7.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Wednesdays: 13.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 81% of all 21 deaths at Joplin Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.5% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 63.6% of all 829 deaths in MO, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.1% 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 handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.9% of these deaths.
His people
Joplin Police Department has 21 officers remembered here, Jake 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 38-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
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