Joplin Police Department


The Joplin Police Department is the principal law enforcement agency responsible for serving the city of Joplin in the U.S. state of Missouri.The Joplin Police Department currently employs 112 Police Officers. The department maintains a fleet of Dodge Chargers and Chevy Tahoes. The Joplin Police Department is the largest law enforcement agency in Jasper County, Missouri.

Department structure and history

The Joplin Police Department was created in 1873, and is responsible for providing law enforcement services to a major population center in Southwest Missouri encompassing approximately 50,000 city residents and 200,000 daily visitors through its patrol, investigations, administration, special enforcement, and support services bureaus which report to the Chief of Police, and previously to the Police Marshal. According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, 21 officers have been killed in the line of duty in the department's history.
Officers are issued Glock pistols as their primary sidearm, in recent years JPD has upgraded to the 9mm Glock due to improved ballistics and the FBI going to 9mm.

Marshals and chiefs

Individuals who have served as marshal or chief of the Joplin Police Department since its creation in 1873 have included the following
  • J. William Lupton
  • John Frederick Bair
  • L. Cass Hamilton
  • Calvin Nickell
  • J.J. Cofer
  • John Alexander McManamy
  • W.E. Morgan
  • John Alexander McManamy
  • Thomas James Cofer
  • John Alexander McManamy
  • Joseph H. Myers
  • John Alexander McManamy
  • Joseph H. Myers
  • Henry N. Milligan
  • J.J. Cofer
  • Joseph H. Myers
  • Vern P. Hine
  • William F. Gibson
  • Luther M. Laster
  • Bert Blizzard
  • Arch McDonald
  • Guy Harrington
  • Henry Mead
  • Joseph W. Pratt
  • Barney Walker
  • Tony Calvin Bone
  • Barney Walker
  • Tony Calvin Bone
  • Henry Vermillion
  • Kendrick Lloyd
  • Roy E. Isgrigg
  • T. Frank Martin
  • John T. Hollis
  • Roy E. Isgrigg
  • Walter H. Flenner
  • Adrian Lacy Meacham
  • Bernard Kakuske
  • Larry D. Tennis
  • David McCracken
  • Michael J. Wightman
  • David R. Nieber
  • Edward G. Dennis
  • Kevin Lindsey
  • Lane J. Roberts
  • Jason Burns
  • Matthew Stewart
  • Sloan Rowland
  • Brian Lewis
  • Richard Pearson