Independence officer’s death adds to department’s tragic history
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — Three Independence police officers and a Jackson County civil process server were shot Thursday.
One of the officers and the process server have died, according to the Independence Police Department.
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Officials identified the officer killed as Independence Officer Cody Allen, a 35-year-old father of two who had been with Independence police for about two years.
Jackson County Presiding Judge Jalilah Otto confirmed that Drexel Mack was the process server killed Thursday. Mack had been with the Jackson County court for over 12 years.
The shooting happened around 1 p.m. just south of N. Elsea Smith’s intersection with 24 Highway.
It’s another devastating loss for a department that has seen several tragic shootings in recent years.
Less than 3 years ago, Independence Officer Blaize Madrid-Evans was killed in the line of duty, on Sept. 15, 2021. He and two other officers were checking a home after someone called in a tip that a fugitive was inside.
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Shortly after Madrid-Evans and the officers arrived at the home, the suspect pulled a gun and shot the 22-year-old officer before he could react. The other officers returned fire, killing the suspect.
Madrid-Evans died just two months after graduating from the police academy.
On March 29, 2017, Independence Officer Tom Wagstaff was shot in the head and critically hurt while responding to a burglary. He made a miraculous recovery and has since retired form the department.
In an interview with FOX4 in September 2020, Wagstaff said he’d still be on the job if not for the shooting.
On March 17, 2001, Independence Officer Terry Foster was shot and killed in the line of duty after responding to a domestic disturbance call.
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An elderly couple had called police to report their adult son was threatening them and acting violent. When officers arrived, the suspect locked himself in an upstairs bedroom.
After talking with the suspect, the officers forced the hallway door open and began to check a bedroom when the suspect opened fire, striking Foster in the head and chest several times.
Other officers dragged Foster out of the home and held their positions when an explosion ripped through the bedroom, completely engulfing the house. Officials later found the suspect’s body inside.
Foster was employed with the Independence Police Department for 32 years and was only three weeks from retirement.
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On Oct. 31, 1966, Independence Police Lt. David Joe Kraxner was shot and killed while conducting a felony traffic stop on an escaped convict who shot a prison guard while being transported for trial.
The suspect that killed the 34-year-old lieutenant was later captured and was subsequently sentenced to life plus 39 years in prison. He was denied parole in January 2012.
The Independence Police Department’s history with tragic shootings unfortunately dates back over 100 years.
On Jan. 26, 1922, Patrolman George Barton was walking his beat on the square when he noticed a suspicious person. The person pulled out a Colt .45 and shot Barton, who died two hours later at the hospital.
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Back on Jan. 16, 1884, Independence Police Chief John Swearingen was shot and killed when his gun fell to the floor and discharged while he was checking on prisoners.
Records say on Feb. 10, 1877, Deputy Marshal Henry Hughes was shot and killed while attempting to make an arrest.
The primary suspect was hung for his role in the killing. A second suspect was sentenced to death but the sentence was later commuted to 10 years in prison.
