St. Joseph Police Department, Missouri
End of Watch: Saturday, March 18, 1944
Age: 38
Tour of Duty: 3 weeks
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: March 18, 1944
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Sentenced to 8 years
Patrolman Alva Mead was shot and killed by a juvenile while attempting to arrest him for burglary.
The boy had stolen $12 and two guns from a tavern at about 2:30 am. As two officers approached him in an alley, the boy ran from them. Patrolman Mead, who was in a patrol car, intercepted the boy near the Electric Theater at Seventh Street and Edmont Street. The two exchanged gunshots, and Patrolman Mead was fatally wounded; however, he was able to wound the boy.
On November 15th, 1944, the 16-year-old boy was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to eight years in prison.
Patrolman Mead had served with the St. Joseph Police Department for only 17 days. He was survived by his wife and two young daughters.