A former Mansfield police officer has plead guilty to harassment in the second degree following an investigation into a threat he made toward a city official earlier this year.
Derek Beaver, who resigned from the Mansfield Police Department on March 16, entered the plea as part of a negotiated agreement with prosecutors. The charge stems from a March 17 incident in which Beaver allegedly told another officer not to respond to a “shots fired” call at the official’s residence because “no one will have enough ammunition.”
The statement, made shortly after Beaver’s resignation under threat of termination, was perceived by the officer and department leadership as a credible threat. Beaver also reportedly displayed firearms and made additional comments about the city and police administration in the hours following his departure from the department.
According to court records, Beaver admitted to making the comment but claimed it was intended as a joke. He was arrested without incident later that day after coordination between multiple law enforcement agencies.
As part of the plea agreement, Beaver agreed to permanently surrender his Missouri Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) license, effectively ending his law enforcement career. He must also complete 100 hours of community service and attend court-approved anger management counseling.
The harassment charge is a misdemeanor, and Beaver avoided a more serious charge of terroristic threatening – second degree through the plea deal. Sentencing terms did not include jail time but carry standard misdemeanor penalties, including probation and possible fines.
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