History of the Joplin Police Department
The Joplin Police Department has been serving the citizens and visitors to Joplin since 1873. During our 143 years of service, this department has employed 36 police marshals/chiefs. Our colorful past includes beginnings in a rough and rowdy mining town, a shootout with the infamous Bonnie and Clyde, and more recently, our emergency response to an F-5 tornado that ripped out approximately 1/3 of the town.