Joplin Police Department, Missouri
End of Watch: Thursday, December 6, 1979
Age:
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Automobile crash
Date of Incident: November 22, 1979
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Patrolman Paul Harlan succumbed to injuries sustained on Thanksgiving Day, November 22nd, 1979, when he was involved in a crash at the intersection of Main Street and Murphy Boulevard during a high-speed pursuit.
He was pursuing a juvenile who had been involved in an earlier hit-and-run crash when both vehicles went out of control and struck a brick wall. The juvenile fled the scene on foot but was arrested in Texas on November 29th, 1979, and extradited to Missouri.
Patrolman Harlan was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries on December 6th, 1979.