Benjamin Cooper

Benjamin Lee Cooper devoted much of his adult life to service — first in the U.S. Army and later as a career law‑enforcement officer. After enlisting in the Army in the mid‑1990s and serving through 2001, he completed the Missouri Southern State University Law Enforcement Academy and began a long career protecting communities in Missouri and Colorado. His professional record shows more than 19 years of combined service, a trajectory that led to his promotion to corporal in 2016.

Friends and colleagues remembered Cooper as a steady, reliable presence on the force. He began with the Joplin Police Department in the early 2000s, served as a deputy sheriff in Colorado for several years, and later returned to Joplin where he continued his commitment to public safety. Beyond titles and assignments, official tributes and memorials emphasize his dedication to duty and to the people he served.

Cooper was also a family man. Public accounts note he is survived by his wife and two daughters; during the community memorials and services that followed his passing, family and fellow officers spoke about his steadfastness, faith, and commitment to those closest to him. The city of Joplin and the State of Missouri formally honored his service, including an order to fly flags at half‑staff and a public funeral attended by many in the region.

Though his life ended far too soon, people who served alongside Corporal Cooper described him as someone defined by responsibility and care for others. That sense of duty — to country, to community, and to family — is how many who knew him continue to remember him. His service and sacrifice left a lasting mark on Joplin and on the colleagues who carried forward his example.