Joplin honors Corporal Benjamin Lee Cooper
Funeral services held today at MSSU . . . .
The City of Joplin paused today to honor Corporal Benjamin Lee Cooper of the Joplin Police Department.
Cooper was one of two Joplin policemen fatally injured in by an assailant one week ago today.
His funeral was held earlier this afternoon at Missouri Southern State University.
Joplin Police Chief Sloan Rowland called Cooper “rock solid.”
“He trained countless officers over the years,” Rowland said. “He was a tough F.T.O. but when his trainee graduated, he welcomed them. They knew they had a friend and mentor for life.””Many of the stories I’ve heard this week come from the people Coop trained,” Rowland continued. “Coop was truly respected by all.”
Many citizens lined up from 3rd Street to 19th streets today from 3 to 4 p.m. to say goodbye to Officer Cooper.
The funeral for Officer Jake Reed, the other JPD officer who died in a barrage of gunfire last week, will be held later this week.