By Jeff Lehr
jlehr@joplinglobe.com
The Missouri State Highway Patrol has issued a report saying two Joplin police officers were justified in the shooting Saturday night of a former lieutenant with the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department.
Police Chief Lane Roberts said the state patrol informed him Wednesday that its investigation of the shooting of Milton E. Ganz, 38, outside his home at 2603 S. Monroe Ave. concluded that Officers Ben Cooper and Freddie Alaniz acted in accordance with Joplin Police Department policy governing use of force.
Police say Ganz was armed with a .357-caliber revolver and was threatening to kill himself before the two officers arrived at his house. Both officers fired at him multiple times when Ganz pointed the gun at Cooper, according to police. Ganz was wounded by a single shot to the abdomen.
Roberts said the patrol’s report concurs with findings of the Police Department’s own internal-affairs review.
“(The officers) did the right thing,” Roberts said. “They were in a real tough spot.”
He said he has yet to see the patrol’s report on its investigation and does not know the specifics of its findings. He said the patrol simply provided him a courtesy notice of the primary conclusion of its investigation.
Roberts said the Police Department’s own review concluded that nine shots were fired in the incident, all of them by Cooper and Alaniz. The chief on Monday had acknowledged some uncertainty as to whether Ganz fired a shot. He said Wednesday that the internal review concluded that he had not.
“We know his gun was loaded, but we don’t believe he fired a shot,” Roberts said.
One live round was found in the weapon. Roberts said Ganz may have pulled the trigger on an empty cylinder, but he is probably the only one who knows. The chief said the single bullet was positioned in the cylinder that would have fired next.
Ganz was taken to St. John’s Regional Medical Center for treatment of the gunshot wound and later was committed on a 96-hour hold for a mental-health evaluation. He had not been charged with any offense by the Jasper County prosecutor’s office by late Wednesday afternoon, and an effort to ascertain the status of the 96-hour-hold was unsuccessful.
Prosecutor Dean Dankelson could not be reached for comment Wednesday afternoon.
Roberts said he did not know whether the state patrol made any recommendations to the prosecutor’s office as to possible charges against Ganz.
The chief said Cooper and Alaniz remain on administrative leave. He said the standard protocol for officer-involved shootings calls for seven days off duty. He said the Police Department will begin a fitness-for-duty evaluation this week, with an eye toward possible returns to duty for the two officers sometime next week.
“Any time you shoot somebody, it has a profound impact on people,” Roberts said. “We just want to make sure that they are prepared to go back to work and have come to terms with this.”
Patrol report
Joplin police Chief Lane Roberts said the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s report on an officer-involved shooting probably will be made public soon.
Joplin Metro
State patrol report says Joplin officers justified in shooting armed man
- Joplin Metro
-
-
Longtime Democrat dies at 81
Sapp, 81, died Thursday. Funeral services were Monday at the First Presbyterian Church of Joplin. A longtime Jasper County Democratic committeewoman and volunteer, Sapp for years was secretary to the county’s central committee.
-
Motivational speaker offers free marriage course
Presented by Mark Gungor, the course is being offered free to the community. The event is being held to aid in tornado relief.
-
District sends faculty, administrators on site visits
With the design phase of several buildings in Joplin Schools ending in May, the district has sent 66 administration, faculty, parents and community members on site visits to 22 schools and two technology company headquarters across the country.
-
Mural depicting Joplin High School dedicated
A four-paneled mural depicting the recent history of Joplin High School was dedicated at the Memorial 9th- and 10th-grade Center Tuesday morning. The mural will be moved to the new high school when it is completed in 2014.
-
Carl Junction chamber creating new committees
The Carl Junction Chamber of Commerce is kicking off three new committees this week with meetings scheduled Tuesday and Wednesday.
-
Body of missing Joplin man found
The body of a missing Joplin man was discovered this afternoon inside his home in the Royal Heights neighborhood of Joplin.
-
Wildcat Glades nature center receives $50,000 grant
The Wildcat Glades Conservation & Audubon Center has received a $50,000 TogetherGreen Innovation Grant, which is being provided through an alliance between the National Audubon Society and Toyota.
-
Joplin shooting victim’s name released
The Joplin Police Department today released the name of a woman fatally shot in her home early Thursday and acknowledged that the shooting was reported as a suicide attempt.
-
Barry Manilow to deliver donated instruments
Singer-songwriter Barry Manilow will visit Joplin next week to donate more than $300,000 in musical instruments to replace those lost during the May 22 tornado.
-
Extreme Makeover releases names of families
"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" has released more details about the build in the 2400 block of Connor Avenue, including the names of the seven families. They are:
- More Joplin Metro Headlines
-







