Celebrating Black History Month With The First African American Detective
Elementary my dear Cooper! On June 16, 1907, Ira L. Cooper was appointed Lt. Cooper, the very first African American detective. He would later become the first African American Sergeant on February 27, 1923, and commanded a squad of African American detectives in 1930 with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Gregory Carr, an instructor at Harris-Stowe State University in St. Louis, MO. has his own insight into how Lt. Cooper was as a detective, “Ira Cooper was a very smart detective, he achieved all of these amazing feats, despite social restrictions, which I think is more amazing than anything.”
Ira Cooper grew up in Mexico, Missouri where his parents had made a living as schoolteachers, he later grew up to attend Northern Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago to earn his master’s degree. After graduating he moved to St. Louis looking for a job. He worked for many places before becoming an officer of the law, such as working for the U.S. Subtreasury as an assistant treasurer, and the post office. He even wrote articles for the St. Louis Palladium. Two friends had later informed Cooper that the police department was looking to hire African American officers to patrol the African American neighborhoods. At the time Cooper was making $50 a month but as a police officer, he would make $65 a month. It was never heard of an African American officer being promoted but only after a year of service Cooper was promoted to Detective. Through his years of service, he helped solved many cases including kidnappings, murders, major thefts, and bank robberies. After solving an embezzlement scheme that had been baffled bank officials and other detectives for years he became the fourth American to win an award from Britian’s Scotland Yard.
In January of 1939 Ira Cooper retired from the police force due to illness. A few weeks later on February 15, 1939 Cooper died in the comfort of his home due to heart failure at the age of 61. At the time of his death he had served the police force for 31 years. He was put to rest on February 17, 1939 in Washington Park Cemetery in St. Louis, MO.
