The Oklahoma Law Enforcement Memorial

The Oklahoma Law Enforcement Memorial The Oklahoma Law Enforcement Memorial honors the service of all law enforcement officers and the sac

The Oklahoma Law Enforcement Memorial honors the service of all law enforcement officers and the sacrifices made by our fallen officers and their families in that service.

4 Years AgoJustin Conrad Baxter – Deputy SheriffCanadian County Sheriff’s Office September 8, 2022 Justin Baxter was bor...
10/12/2026

4 Years Ago

Justin Conrad Baxter – Deputy Sheriff
Canadian County Sheriff’s Office September 8, 2022

Justin Baxter was born September 12, 1989, in Denver, Colorado to Nicholas Conrad and Delynda Rai “Lindy” (Stewart) Baxter.

Deputy Sheriff Justin Baxter, 32, had transported several high-risk felony prisoners on Wednesday, September 7, 2022. That evening at home Deputy Baxter complained of shortness of breath and chest pains. The early hours of Thursday, September 8, 2022, Deputy Sheriff Justin Baxter was transported to Integris Canadian Valley Hospital where they were unable to revive him, and he was pronounced dead at 2:34 a.m.

Deputy Sheriff Justin Baxter’s earthly remains were cremated.

Deputy Sheriff Justin Baxter was survived by his wife Tiffany and daughters Kayla, 7, and Kinley, 2.

OLEM – 4N-3-21 NLEOM –

Updated September 3, 2023

10/12/2026

88 Years Ago

Hugh Abraham Owen – Sheriff
Nowata County Sheriff’s Office October 12, 1938

Hugh A. Owen was born July 6, 1889, at Audubon, Audubon County, Iowa to Hugh B. and Sena (Stahl) Owen. Hugh Owen married Lena Lillian Ray on November 25, 1915.

On the afternoon of Wednesday, October 12, 1938, at about 5 p.m. Sheriff Hugh Owen, Deputy Sheriff Bill Lupfer and Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Roy Kannaday were searching for two men who had committed an armed robbery near Nowata the previous night. After identifying two suspects, they traced the men to a house ten miles east of Nowata. When Sheriff Hugh Owen ordered the men to come outside and surrender, they refused. Sheriff Hugh Owen then forced the door open and was shot in the chest with a sh***un as he entered the house. Sheriff Hugh Owen died on the way to the hospital and the suspects escaped.

Hugh Owen was survived by his wife Lena and three children, Alma Irene, 19, James Ray, 15, and Mary Kathryn, 10, and is buried in Nowata Memorial Cemetery, Nowata, Nowata County, Oklahoma.

Mrs. Lena Owen was appointed Sheriff of Nowata County to serve the remainder of her deceased husband’s term.

Alvie Chester Wright, 25, was arrested near Poplar Bluff by Missouri Highway Patrol troopers on October 15 and Leslie R. “Whitey” Cameron, 24, was captured near the Arkansas border four days later.

Both suspects were taken to the State Prison in McAlester to prevent a lynching and they were tried in Bartlesville the following January 1939. Both men alleged that they were drunk at the time of the shooting and Chester Wright, the one suspected of having fired the fatal shot, also said he was under the influence of morphine. Both men were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.

OLEM – 7N-3-12 NLEOM – 60W10 [Owens]

Update Dated October 11, 2023

94 Years AgoHoward Brooke Oursler – Federal Prohibition AgentU.S. Department of Justice October 12, 1932 Howard Oursler ...
10/12/2026

94 Years Ago

Howard Brooke Oursler – Federal Prohibition Agent
U.S. Department of Justice October 12, 1932

Howard Oursler was born January 7, 1874, in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania to Jacob H. and Rebecca Sarah (Morton) Oursler. In 1909 Howard Oursler married Jennie “Mae” Smith. Howard Oursler later served in World War I and obtained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel by the time he was honorably discharged in October 1919.

Howard. Oursler was a special agent recently assigned from the Kansas City office to the Muskogee office. Agent Howard Oursler had gone to Stilwell and made purchases of liquor from several sources, one of them Ed Dudley. On Wednesday, October 12, 1932, Agent Howard Oursler and a driver, Elmer Philpott, went back to Stilwell to make arrests. About 1 p.m. the federal officers observed Ed Dudley standing on a street corner. Agent Howard Oliver approached Ed Dudley announcing he was a federal agent and that he was arresting him. Ed Dudley protested at which time the officer grabbed Dudley and attempted to subdue him. During the fight which followed Ed Dudley was able to get Agent Oursler’s gun and fire into the agent’s abdomen and then turned the gun on Elmer Philpott, hitting him in the leg. Ed Dudley then walked away.

Both Agent Howard Oursler and his driver Elmer Philpott were transported to a local hospital, but the efforts of the doctor were in vain, and Agent Howard Oursler died about 4:30 p.m.

A huge pose was formed, and a search of the hills gave no results. Three days after the shooting, on Saturday, January 15th Ed Dudley called the sheriff’s office to surrender. Ed Dudley was arraigned on first degree murder charges in the killing of Special Agent Howard Oursler.

Agent Howard Oursler was survived by his wife Jennie “Mae” and is buried in Allegheny Cemetery, Pittsburg, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

Ed Dudley was tried for the murder of Agent Howard Oursler at the end of September 1933. On Friday evening September 28,1933, the jury returned with a verdict of guilty of manslaughter and recommended life in prison for Ed Dudley.

OLEM – 1N-1-4 NLEOM – 20E6

Updated October 10, 2026

10/12/2026

96 Years Ago

Moses Edgar “Bay” Pruitt – Constable
City of Berwyn October 12, 1930

Moses Edgar Pruitt was born October 31, 1889, to Moses Byrd and Evelyn (Gardenhire) Pruitt.

Late the night of Saturday, October 11, 1930, Constable Moses Pruitt, 40, and another constable raided a Negro dice game in the hills near Berwyn. During the raid one of the participants, Semi Roberts shot Constable Moses Pruitt in the lower body. Constable Pruitt returned fire, hitting Semi Roberts in the right lung. Constable Moses Pruitt died the next day about 1:30 p.m. the afternoon of Sunday October 12, 1930.

Semi Roberts was shot and killed by Constable Pruitt’s brother Claude shortly afterwards.

Constable Moses “Bay” Pruitt was survived by his wife Ella (Grim), two sons, Charles Clint, 16, and Edgar F., 14, and an adopted daughter.

Moses E. Pruitt is buried in Pruitt Cemetery, Ardmore, Carter County, Oklahoma.

OLEM – 7N-1 20 NLEOM – 34E23

Updated October 9, 2026

63 Years AgoClyde Raymond Harrison – Deputy SheriffMcCurtain County Sheriff’s Office October 11, 1963 Shortly before noo...
10/07/2026

63 Years Ago

Clyde Raymond Harrison – Deputy Sheriff
McCurtain County Sheriff’s Office October 11, 1963

Shortly before noon on Friday, October 11, 1963, Deputy Sheriff Clyde Harrison, 39, became involved in a pursuit with a vehicle on Highway 259 going south of Smithville. The vehicle finally pulled over to the side of the road six miles south of Smithville. The driver, George Ralph Nichols, 54, of Dogpatch, then got out with a 30-30 caliber r***e, and pointed it at Deputy Sheriff Harrison as he pulled in behind George Nichols’ car. Deputy Sheriff Clyde Harrison turned off his car engine and began approaching George Nichols on foot when Nichols shot Deputy Sheriff Harrison once in the chest. Deputy Sheriff Harrison drew his pistol after being shot and fired twice at George Nichols but missed before Harrison died. George Nichols was arrested later that day.

Deputy Sheriff Clyde Harrison was survived by his wife Arlene and two young daughters, Mickey Jo, 11, and Jerry Raylene, 9 and is buried in Oaklawn Cemetery, Sulphur, Murray County, Oklahoma.

George Nichols was convicted of Deputy Sheriff Clyde Harrison’s murder and sentenced to life in prison. However, his sentence was later reduced to thirty-three years and one day. George Nichols was later paroled and returned to the Smithville area.

OLEM – 7N-4-20 NLEOM – 52E6

Updated October 14, 2025

82 Years AgoWalter Christian Busch, Sr. – Patrolman Tulsa Police Department October 11, 1944 Walter C. Busch, Sr. was...
10/07/2026

82 Years Ago

Walter Christian Busch, Sr. – Patrolman
Tulsa Police Department October 11, 1944

Walter C. Busch, Sr. was born July 9, 1906, at Hamburg, Erie County, New York to Charles Henry and Emma (Brunner) Busch. Walter C. Busch, Sr. worked for the Tulsa Pipe and Supply Company before joining the Tulsa Police Department in September 1938. Officer Busch was assigned to the police department’s traffic department in May 1940.

On Tuesday, October 10, 1944, Officer Walter Busch, 38, was chasing a speeding motorist on his police motorcycle when he was involved in a traffic accident at Seventeenth Street and Quanah Avenue with Kenneth O. Rawlings, 16. Patrolman Walter Busch’s injuries did not appear serious, but he died from his injuries about 10:30 a.m. the next day, Wednesday, October 11th at St. John’s Hospital.

Walter C. Busch, Sr. was survived by his wife Hazel and their three sons, Walter Charles, Jr., William and Charles Henry and a daughter Delora Faye.

Walter C. Busch, Sr. is buried in Rose Hill Memorial Park, Tulsa, Tulsa County, Oklahoma.

No charges were filed against Kenneth O. Rawlings.

OLEM – 7N-2-22 NLEOM – 54W7

Updated September 14, 2023

69 Years AgoFred Thompson – OfficerMidwest City Police Department Fred Thompson was born December 29, 1899, at Barney, F...
10/07/2026

69 Years Ago

Fred Thompson – Officer
Midwest City Police Department

Fred Thompson was born December 29, 1899, at Barney, Faulkner County, Arkansas to George David and Mollie L. (Wilson) Thompson. On June 16, 1918, eighteen-year-old Fred Thompson married sixteen-year-old Addie Evelyn “Eva” Dorsey at Konawa, Seminole County, Oklahoma. Fred and Eva had three children, Hoyt Wilford, born May 20, 1924, Lavern Melva Jean, born May 24, 1926, and Glenna born in 1940. Fred and Eva raised their family in Konawa, Oklahoma until 1951 when they moved to Midwest City, Oklahoma. Fred had severed as the Nightwatchman (police officer) for Konawa for some time before they moved.

Fred Thompson joined the Midwest City Police Department on July 8, 1951, and was assigned as the downtown beat officer. Fred walked the downtown beat for thirteen years and knew everybody and every store owner.

One duty of Midwest City Police Officers in the 1950’s and 1960’s was to drive the school buses for the Mid-Del School District in uniform. On Friday, October 4, 1963, beat officer Fred Thompson worked his normal day shift walking the downtown beat. That Friday evening Fred Thompson was assigned to drive the Mid-Del School bus that would transport the Midwest City High School “Bombers” football team to Douglass High School near NE 10th and S. Eastern (now M. L. King Avenue) in Oklahoma City for that nights’ rivalry game against the Douglass High School “Trojans”. During the football game ten fights broke out during which one person was stabbed and ten to fifteen people were arrested. Officer Fred Thompson, one of eight Midwest City police officers at the game along with several Oklahoma City Police Officers for security, intervened in several of the fights.

The next day, Saturday, October 5, 1963, Officer Fred Thompson walked his downtown Midwest City beat as usual. During the day Officer Thompson began to feel ill and that afternoon called his wife, Eva, to come pick him up early. Soon after arriving home Officer Thompson suffered a heart attack and passed out at home. Officer Thompson was transported by an ambulance to Mercy Hospital in downtown Oklahoma City for treatment and died there the next day, Sunday, October 6, 1963.

Officer Fred Thompson was survived by his wife Eva and their three adult children, Hoyt, 39, Lavern, 37, and her husband Hurshel Thomas, and Glenna, 23, and her husband Douglas Herren and their families.

Fred Thompson is buried in Konawa Memorial Cemetery, Konawa, Seminole County, Oklahoma.

OLEM – 12S-2-2 NLEOM –

March 12, 2023

116 Years AgoCharles W. Stamper – Deputy SheriffTulsa County Sheriff’s Office October 9, 1910 According to the 1910 Cens...
10/07/2026

116 Years Ago

Charles W. Stamper – Deputy Sheriff
Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office October 9, 1910

According to the 1910 Census, Charles W. Stamper was born in 1889 in Missouri to Elisha and Fairinda (Booth) Stamper. On September 30, 1905, Charles Stamper, 16 (18 on marriage license), married Geraldeen Hattie Meads, 18, at Claremore, Indian Territory.

On Sunday, October 9, 1910, in the village of Dawson, a small coal mining station five miles north of Tulsa, a group of miners were having a dice game in a tent when a confrontation erupted. Some of the upset miners started shooting at each other. When the shooting had spilled over into the community sending citizens for cover, a messenger was sent to summon Deputy Sheriff Charles Stamper, 21, who lived in Dawson. Stamper’s neighbor, Jack Leighton, came to assist. As Deputy Sheriff Stamper dismounted and walked around behind his horse, a miner named Frank Henson fired his .45 caliber revolver, shooting Deputy Sheriff Charles Stamper in the face below his mouth the bullet exiting his neck just below his ear. When Deputy Stamper went to his knees, Frank Henson fired again. Returning fire, Deputy Sheriff Stamper was able to shoot Henson in the leg and thigh. Although mortally wounded, Deputy Sheriff Charles Stamper continued to fight back with citizens of Dawson assisting. Deputy Sheriff Stamper was able to ride his horse to his residence where his wife, Hattie sent for the doctor. When Sheriff Newblock arrived in Dawson, the citizens had apprehended four individuals; a fifth had fled. The Sheriff started in pursuit of the fifth suspect, catching up to him in Margo. Deputy Sheriff Charles Stamper died later that Sunday from his wounds after having surgery at the Tulsa Hospital.

Deputy Sheriff Charles Stamper, 21 , was survived by his wife, Hattie, and their three children, Loyd, 3, Mirtle, 2, and Rosella Belle, 4 months old and is buried in Oaklawn Cemetery, Tulsa, Tulsa County, Oklahoma.

After deliberating for only twenty-two minutes, a jury found 22-years old Frank Henson guilty of the murder of Deputy Sheriff Charles Stamper and sentenced Henson to hang. The death sentence was carried out in front of a crowd of approximately five hundred people on March 31, 1911. No one ever learned if the suspect’s true name was Frank Henson. He was tried, convicted, and hung as Frank Henson, but a letter he wrote, found after his death, was signed Amos Bell.

Deputy Sheriff Charles Stamper’s death led to the first, and last, legal hanging ever carried out by a Tulsa County Sheriff.

Deputy Charles W. Stamper remained buried in an unmarked grave until May 15, 2026, when a granite grave marker was placed by the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Memorial organization and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s FOP Lodge #188.

OLEM – 3S-2-5 NLEOM – 52E12
Updated May 16, 2026

87 Years AgoIrvin Burgin Gossett – Chief of PoliceDuncan Police Department October 7, 1939 Just after midnight on Tuesda...
10/04/2026

87 Years Ago

Irvin Burgin Gossett – Chief of Police
Duncan Police Department October 7, 1939

Just after midnight on Tuesday, May 13, 1930, Stephens County Sheriff Waldo A. Williams, Undersheriff Ed Sumrill, Duncan Chief Irvin Gossett, Assistant Chief Charles Coker, and Night Policeman W. F. McKinzey had stopped a black Buick that “looked brand new” south bound on Highway 81 about four miles north of Duncan. The lawmen were looking for a Buick of this description containing four men wanted in connection with several armed robberies in the area in recent months including one at a service station in Lawton a few hours before.

The men in the Buick were the Cunningham brothers, Forrest “Doc”, 27, John B., 25, Emanuel “Skinny”, 23, and Jess “Jake”, 18. As the officers approached the Buick and its occupants were getting out, a gunfight broke out. When it was over Sheriff Waldo Williams was wounded in the stomach, chest, and leg, and died at 2:30 p.m. that afternoon. Chief Irvin Gossett was wounded in the stomach.

Of the Cunningham brothers, Forrest Cunningham was dead, John was wounded in the arm and stomach, Emanuel was shot in the spine and paralyzed for life and Jess had escaped. Jess Cunningham was captured later in Colorado and all three surviving brothers pled guilty to the Sheriff’ Waldo William’s murder and were given life sentences.

Chief Irvin Gossett was given a direct blood transfusion and eventually recovered enough to return to work, but he was never well and died Saturday, October 7, 1939, from the effects of his gunshot wound.

Chief Irvin Gossett was survived by his wife, Angie, and two sons and is buried in Duncan Municipal Cemetery, Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma.

OLEM – 7N-2-25 NLEOM – 63E22

Updated June 15, 2024

95 Years AgoGeorge Arthur Luckett – Chief of PoliceDepew Police Department October 6, 1931 George Arthur Luck...
10/04/2026

95 Years Ago

George Arthur Luckett – Chief of Police
Depew Police Department October 6, 1931

George Arthur Luckett was born July 15, 1882, in Illinois. On December 30, 1903, George Luckett married Roxie Lewis in Muskogee, Oklahoma.

About 5 a.m. on Tuesday, October 6, 1931, the body of Chief George Luckett, was found lying in an alley behind a business in Depew with a sh***un wound to his head. There was evidence of a struggle and Chief Luckett’s gun, holster and flashlight were missing. A nearby resident reported hearing a single gunshot about 3 a.m. but did not investigate when nothing else was heard.

Chief Luckett, 48, was survived by his wife Roxie and three sons, Irwin, 22, and twins Edgar and Edwin,19.

The exact burial site of Chief George Luckett is unknown.

No one was ever charged with the murder of Chief George Luckett.

OLEM – 8S-5-16 NLEOM – 44W24

Updated June 23, 2024

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3600 N M L King Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK
73111

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