Joplin dedicates Rangeline bridge to honor fallen Corporal Ben Cooper
Joplin Police have dedicated the new Rangeline bridge in honor of fallen Corporal Ben Cooper.
During a ceremony Friday afternoon, Interim Police Chief Brian Lewis awarded Cooper’s wife, Roxy, with the medal of honor.
On March 8th, 2022, Corporal Ben Cooper fell in the line of duty after attempting to arrest a suspect who was involved in a disturbance and attempted theft near 4th and Geneva Avenue. During the struggle, Corporal Cooper suffered gunshot wounds and was unable to survive his injuries.
“Honor, courage, commitment, service. These are the values of the Joplin Police Department,” said Lewis. “Corporal Ben Cooper lived a life of service to his nation, his community and his family. He displayed courage on that fateful day in March of 2022.”
“Family was everything to Coop and he was a rock to the family. He kept things on track on a rail. It’s only fitting that the bridge behind us goes over a stretch of railroad tracks,” added Lewis.
“Roxy said that [daughter] Tiffany would always run things by Coop as she trusted his guidance. And [daughter] Ashley was the apple of his eye,” continued Lewis. “He was committed to Roxy and he was committed to Tiffany and Ashley.”
Earlier this year, Missouri State Representative Lane Roberts sponsored legislation that would memorialize a bridge in honor of the sacrifice paid by Corporal Ben Cooper.
On July 6th, 2023, Missouri Senate Bill 127, Section 227.827 was signed into law designating the bridge on loop 44/Rangeline Road crossing over the Kansas City Southern Railroad within the City of Joplin as the “Corporal Ben Cooper Memorial Bridge”. This became effective on August 28th, 2023.
On August 7th, 2023, the Joplin City Council affirmed this legislation with the passage of resolution number 2023-016, which officially recognized the ultimate sacrifice paid by Corporal Cooper and honored him by naming the Rangeline Road bridge that crosses over the Kansas City Southern Railroad as the “Corporal Ben Cooper Memorial Bridge”.