KCPD Memorial Lest We Forget
Honoring the Fallen
Officer
Barney Jasper
Kansas City, MO Police Dept
EOW: Tuesday, Jan 22, 1924
Date of incident: Jan 21, 1924
Age: 31
Tour:
DOB: Sep 2, 1892
Cause: Gunfire

Officer Barney Jasper was on patrol when he was shot and killed in an ambush.

The night of January 21, 1924, Officer Barney Jasper was walking in Little Italy when an unknown assailant ambushed him, shooting him from behind with a shotgun. He was found where he had fallen in front of 518 Forest Avenue. Police theory was that the assailant hid behind a tall fence at the address and fired on him from that spot. Officer Jasper was struck in the knee by the first blast then the suspect stepped out and shot him in the back four more times. The suspect was never identified.

Officer Jasper was the first black Kansas City police officer to be killed in the line of duty. He was survived by his wife, Henrietta Jasper. Interred: Highland Cemetery.

Article by Brent Marchant

Kansas City Police Memorial