Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

God rest his soul.

Sgt. Robert A. Henne
Jersey City PD/Ret.

April 22, 2024

The great nephew of Officer Hagler, Jack Davis of Monett Mo., has possession of Officer Hagler's badge. I have examined it and found no number on it or name, but there is every reason to believe the badge is authentic. I have photographed it and would gladly submit the photo for your archive. I am the local newspaper editor who has written about the Hagler case on several occasions.

Murray Bishoff
The Monett Times

April 6, 2016

Elisha was remembered as part of the Blue Courage program hosted at the Norte Dame College Police Department today, South Euclid, Ohio. As part of the reflections portion of the course, he was honored and we appreciate his sacrifice.

Chief Jeffrey Scott
Notre Dame Poiice Department

July 8, 2015

Mary,

Your grandfather was honored again today in another Blue Courage class. His ultimate sacrifice will never be forgotten!

Sgt. Jim Martens
Battle Creek PD, MI

December 4, 2014

I recently completed an SFPD training course called "Blue Courage". One of our group assignments was research and bring to life the story of a fallen officers' life. We were assigned Officer Elisha L. Hagler of Monett Police Department. With less than 24 hours to complete the task we fiercly begin our research. This is our recreation of his life's story and we honor Officer Elisha Lenore Hagler this day a a noble dutiful servant and our fallen hero:

Elisha Lenore Hagler was born in 1885 in Barry, Missouri to John Hagler and Dolly A. Fly. He had four brothers and one sister. Hagler married Blanch Combs and they had three daughters. He was a pharmacist who lost his business during the Great Depression. In 1930, a dear friend was Chief of Police and hired Hagler as a Night Watchman because he needed a job and was trying to take care of his three daughters. Hagler accepted this job offer and became a member of the Monett Police Department.

On September 21, 1931, Officer Hagler responded to a burglary attempt at the Hildrith Motor Company on Main Street in Monett. Hagler observed three men rolling a car out of a commercial garage. He then asked what they were doing, one man raised his hands and a second man shot Hagler, severely wounding him. Hagler was rushed to the nearest emergency medical facility West Hospital (later known in 1978 as St. Vincent Hospital). He had a strong will to serve for his loved ones. According to his granddaughter, Mary Hagler White, the gunshot severed his spinal cord and left Officer Hagler a quadriplegic. They were unable to feed him because, at that time, they had no way to medically care for people with such severe injuries.

Exactly one month after the shooting, October 31, 1931, at the age of 46, Officer Hagler lost his battle and died due to medical complications (i.e., starvation) in Barry, Missouri. Through additional research on the Internet we located records that document Officer Hagler’s wife died (in 1921) ten years prior to his death. Both of their untimely deaths left their three daughters as orphans. Officer Hagler was survived by his three daughters, three brothers, one sister as well as a host of relatives and friends.

Neighboring agencies' officers joined in the investigation and manhunt to capture the outstanding suspects. Two suspects were identified and captured. They were both convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Officer Elisha L. Hagler. This was the first time such a punishment was ever imposed in Barry County. It is believed that there may have been a total of four men involved in this attempted burglary. Also that one of the infamous Barkers (Ma Barker’s Gang) was involved in Officer Hagler’s shooting and it may have been one of the Barker brothers who actually shot Hagler.

On a side note something to consider is that if this were to have happened in later years or even today, with medical advances, he might have lived. If that had happened we wonder what advances he may have had in his law enforcement career; perhaps he could have been promoted to the rank of Chief of Police of the Monett Police Department.

To date Officer Haggler is the only police officer to be killed in the line of duty in Barry County. Currently, the Monett Police patrol 5.5 square miles of the city. They proclaim nearly 10,000 residents, however, the city’s populations grows to 19,000 during the day when workers show up for their jobs. Monett Police Department has 21 sworn officers and seven civilian dispatchers.

Sergeant Yulanda D.A. Williams #2067
San Francisco Police Department

June 22, 2014

Your heroism and service is honored today, the 80th anniversary of your death. Your memory lives and you continue to inspire. Thank you for your service. My cherished son Larry Lasater was a fellow police officer murdered in the line of duty on April 24, 2005 while serving as a Pittsburg, CA police officer.

I am glad that your granddaughter found this site so that she knows your sacrifice and the sacrifice of your children is not forgotten. Time never diminishes respect.

Rest In Peace

Phyllis Loya
mother of fallen officer Larry Lasater, PPD, eow 4/24/05

November 21, 2011

I never knew my grandfather as he was murdered in the line of duty when my mother was only 17 and 21 years before I was born. His murder left my mother and her two sisters orphaned as their mother had died 10 years earlier.
He was a pharmacist who lost his business in the Great Depression. A dear friend was Chief of Police and hired him as a Night Watchman because he needed a job and was trying to take care of his three daughters. The gunshot severed his spinal cord and left him a quadraplegic. They were unable to feed him because, at that time, they had no way to care for people with such severe injury. He died a month after being shot from starvation. Were this to happen today, with medical advances, he might have lived.
I will always wonder what would have happened had he lived.
I never knew him but I miss him just the same. Based on the photos I've seen, I have his eyes.
I very much appreciate that you have created this website.
I am proud to have been able to write this.

Mary Hagler White
granddaughter

October 13, 2008

Rest in Peace Sir.

Pat Van Den Berghe, Manchester, NH
Neighbors for a Better Manchester, NH

November 30, 2007

Rest in peace Watchman Hagler, you served your community well.

a citizen

November 21, 2004