Joseph Lanier - Sheriff

Scullyville County, Choctaw Nation, I.T.     September 23, 1881

(Now Le Flore County, OK)

One of Sheriff Joseph Lanier’s duties was enforcement of the permit laws on Choctaw land. Sheriff Joseph Lanier, 26, had ejected a white man named William Hughes from the tribe’s land and William Hughes sought revenge on the sheriff.

William Hughes took revenge the morning of Friday, September 23, 1881, when Sheriff Joseph Lanier and his wife went into Scullyville to shop. When the couple went into Tibbett’s & Parke’s store to purchase some goods they were followed in by William Hughes. Sheriff Lanier went to look at items in a back room when William Hughes approached him and stated, “I have a damned good notion to kill you!” Sheriff Lanier told Hughes to go away and started back into the main part of the store followed by Hughes. Newspaper articles of the day were not clear on exactly what happened then but it is clear that Wiliam Hughes shot and killed Sheriff Joseph Lanier.

Joseph Lanier is buried in the Scullyville Cemetery, Scullyville, Le Flore County, Oklahoma.

OLEM – 10N-3-16  NLEOM – 26W32

Updated July 3, 2024

Shirley Jo Lanning - Lieutenant

Canadian County Sheriff’s Office     February 14, 2020

About 9:20 a.m. the morning of Friday, February 14, 2020, Lieutenant Shirley Lanning, 58, was driving her unmarked gray county vehicle west bound on the Northwest Expressway in Oklahoma City between Sara and Morgan Roads near the Kilpatrick Turnpike when Lieutenant Lanning suffered a medical episode, and her county vehicle went left of center. An east bound white van struck Lieutenant Lanning’s car almost head-on sending Lieutenant Shirley Lanning’s county unit across both west bound lanes of traffic coming to come to rest just off the roadway. Lieutenant Lanning was extricated from her unit and transported to a local hospital where she soon died. The two occupants of the white van were also transported to the hospital with non-life threating injuries.

Shirley Lanning had previously served with the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office, then the University of Central Oklahoma Campus Police before joining the Canadian County Sheriff’s Office in 2014.

Lieutenant Shirley Lanning was survived by her husband David and stepson Sean Lanning and is buried in Memorial Park Cemetery, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma.

OLEM – 9N-1-19  NLEOM – 58W32

Updated July 3, 2024

Joseph Lewis “Jody” Latimer - Deputy Sheriff

Cotton County Sheriff’s Office October 19, 1995

At approximately 11:20 p.m. on Wednesday, October 18, 1995, Deputy Sheriff “Jody” Latimer, 23, responded to a call from the Temple Police Department for assistance in a drive-by shooting. After Deputy Sheriff “Jody” Latimer requested directions, radio contact was lost with him. A short time later Deputy Sheriff “Jody” Latimer’s wrecked county unit was found. Deputy Sheriff “Jody” Latimer had been thrown fifteen feet from the county unit. Deputy Sheriff “Jody” Latimer was airlifted to a hospital in Lawton but was pronounced dead on arrival shortly after midnight on Thursday, October 19th.

Deputy Sheriff Joseph Latimer was a former Chief of Police at Geronimo and was survived by his wife, Stacy, and fourteen-month daughter, Jillian and is buried in Walters Cemetery, Walters, Cotton County, Oklahoma.

OLEM – 4S-1-12  NLEOM – 28W20

Updated October 18, 2023

John Doyle Lawrence - Deputy Sheriff

Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office May 21, 1957

Shortly before midnight on Monday, May 20, 1957, Deputy Sheriff John Lawrence, 53, and his partner Deputy Sheriff William L. Lawson spotted a blue 1953 Packard that fit the description of a car used in the wounding of two Oklahoma Highway Patrol Troopers an hour before in northwest Miami. The deputies followed the Packard to one mile west of North Miami where the blue 1953 Packard rolled to a stop apparently “drowned out” by the heavy rains that had occurred.  The driver got out of the Packard as the two deputy sheriffs were approaching and opened fire on the deputy sheriffs. The first shot struck Deputy Sheriff John Lawrence in the neck and he fell to the ground. Deputy Sheriff William Lawson returned fired and wounded the man who got back in his car and escaped. Deputy Sheriff William Lawson stayed with his wounded partner and broadcast the tag and car description to other units. The driver of the blue 1953 Packard, Jack D. Sloan, 27, was found dead an hour later in his house where he apparently committed suicide.

Deputy Sheriff John Lawrence died a few hours later about 3 a.m. on Tuesday, May 21, leaving behind his wife and son.

John Lawrence is buried in Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery, Miami, Ottawa County, Oklahoma.

OLEM – 4S-3-18  NLEOM – 3E22

Updated May 9, 2024

Terry Glenn Lawson - Sergeant

Oklahoma City Police Department  April 21, 1977

Terry G. Lawson was born November 8, 1938, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Elmo Glenn and Mary Elaine (Walker) Lawson. Terry G. Lawson joined the Oklahoma City Police Department on August 1, 1963.

On Tuesday, April 19, 1977, Sergeant Terry Lawson was assisting in training police recruits in felony stops in the 3900 block of Northwest Third Street, about half a mile from the Oklahoma City Police Academy. The police recruits were using blank ammunition to increase the realism of the training. Sergeant Terry Lawson was portraying an armed felon and drew a weapon on one of the recruits. The recruit fired at Sergeant Terry Lawson at point blank range, wounding Sergeant Lawson in the liver. Sergeant Terry Lawson died from his wound two days later Thursday, April 21st.

Sergeant Terry Lawson was survived by his wife Velda and two daughters, Terri, and Cindy.

Terry Lawson is buried in Resthaven Gardens Cemetery, Oklahoma City, Cleveland County, Oklahoma.

OLEM – 1N-3-19  NLEOM – 28W10

Updated December 25, 2023

David H. Layman - Deputy U.S. Marshal

U. S. Marshal Service April 10, 183

David Layman lived in Sebastian County, Arkansas. On July 18, 1881, he married Sallie K. Barker. Western District of Arkansas U.S. Marshal Thomas Boles appointed David Layman as one of his deputies. The Chickasaw Nation was Layman’s normal district of assignment.

On Tuesday, April 10, 1883, Deputy Marshal David Layman, 34, and his posse with three prisoners in custody made camp near the home of Lewis Teel in the Choctaw Nation near the Texas border. After making camp Deputy Marshal David Layman, Lewis Teel, and three other men George DeLaughter, Lishe Barker and Jim McCauley crossed over into Texas to attend Jim McCauley’s wedding. Deputy Marshal David Layman also took one of the prisoners, named Maroney with him leaving the other two with his posse.

On their way back from the wedding in Texas the prisoner Maroney escaped. Once back at camp two of the men, Lewis Teel, and George DeLaughter, got in a fight and Deputy Marshal David Layman disarmed them. Lewis Teel then asked for help. Another man named Gabriel Davis, who also was disarmed by Deputy Marshal Layman, went to a neighbor’s house, armed himself and started back to the camp with two men named Nelson Maroney and Gillan. On the way back the three-armed men encountered Deputy Marshal Layman’s posse and forced him to release the other two prisoners. Nelson Maroney then approached Deputy Marshal David Layman with his gun drawn but the deputy marshal grabbed it and drew his own gun. Gillian then shot Deputy Marshal David Layman twice and Gabriel Davis shot Deputy Marshal Layman twice more after he had fallen. The men then escaped. Maroney was later arrested, convicted of manslaughter in Deputy Marshal Layman’s death and sentenced to four years in prison. No record has been found of the other two men ever being arrested.

The burial site of Deputy U.S. Marshal David Layman is unknown.

OLEM – 5N-1-17 (Laymon)  NLEOM – 10E11

Updated April 9, 2024

Victor Robert Lee - Patrolman

Lawton Police Department  June 1, 1947

Patrolman Victor Lee, 47, had only been an officer four days when on Saturday, May 31, 1947, he was notified that Joshua Browning, 62, had been brandishing a gun on Dearborn Street in “the Negro District”. Officer Lee located Joshua Browning setting in a booth in the Gay Paree Café at 101 Dearborn. When Officer Lee asked Joshua Browning if he had a gun Browning replied that he wasn’t bothering anyone. Officer Lee drew his gun and pointed it at Browning. Joshua Browning drew a .380 caliber automatic pistol and the two men exchanged gunfire. Joshua Browning was hit once in the left chest by a shot from Officer Lee’s .44 caliber revolver but a roll of nickels in his pocket saved Browning’s life.

Officer Lee was struck four times in the abdomen and died about 10:30 a.m. the next morning, Sunday, June 1st.

It is reported that the two black men rode in the same car to the hospital and walked in together.

Officer Victor Lee was the first black Lawton Police Officer to die in the line of duty and was survived by his wife Mary and a daughter.

 Officer Victor Lee is buried in Highland Cemetery, Lawton, Comanche County, Oklahoma.

OLEM – 7N-3-11  NLEOM – 50E7

Updated May 26, 2024

Washington Jess “Wash” Lee – Former Sheriff

Going Snake District, Cherokee Nation     September 30, 1890

Washington J. Lee was born in northwestern Georgia, Old Cherokee Nation East, about 1835, to Walter and Lucinda Lee. Wash Lee traveled to the Cherokee Nation West in the  Indian Territory during the Trail of Tears, during which his parents and older sister died.

About 1869 Wash Lee married Lydia Ann “Liddie”Musgrove. ash Lee was also a prominent farmer in the Going Snake area. Their home was located about one mile north of Baptist Mission in the Going Snake District of the Cherokee Nation West.    

Wash Lee became the Sheriff for the Going Snake District in August 1881 and served as the Sheriff for two years.

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Around 1888 a white family named Chambers came to the country and settled on Wash Lee’s farm. The Chambers had two pretty daughters.

Also in the area was another Cherokee family, the Dunnawas (Dunaway). The Dunnawas had two sons, Fred, 18, and George, 21. Fred became infatuated with one of the Chambers’ daughters and ended up marrying her. All went well between Fred and his young wife until the first part of September 1890. It seems that a disreputable piece of gossip was being talked about in the neighborhood about Fred Dunnawas’ sister-in-law, and Wash Lee’s wife was accused of starting it. A general row between the women was the result, and the men of the respective families took it up.

On Saturday evening, September 27, 1890, Wash Lee and the two Dunnawas boys met near Lee’s house, a quarrel arose, and a fight ensued. Wash Lee was unarmed except for a small knife and the Dunnawas each had pistols. The Dunnawas started firing at Wash Lee, hitting him seven times. Wash Lee lived three days and died on September 30, 1890

Wash Lee was survived by his wife Lydia and their seven children, Martha, 20, Nannie, 18, Felix, 15, Carrie, 13, Sarah “Sallie”, 11, Kate “Katie”, 9, and Levi, 6.

Wash Lee was buried in the Musgrove Cemetery, about one mile southwest of his home and three miles northwest of present-day Westville, Adair County, Oklahoma.

The Dunnawas boys, also known as George Quarles and Fred Grant, were arrested, tried, found guilty of murder, and sentenced to hang by the Cherokee Nation courts. About 1 p.m. on Friday, April 17, 1891, Fred, and George Dunnawas’ death sentence was carried out at Tahlequah, becoming the first double hanging in the Cherokee Nation.

OLEM – 5N-1-6 (Wash Lee)

Updated July 3, 2024

William Leech - Deputy U.S. Marshal

U. S. Marshal Service April 10, 1883

On Wednesday, April 9, 1884, one of the first black Deputy U. S. Marshals, Bass Reeves and his three-man posse made camp just south of the Canadian River, which separated the Seminole Nation and the Chickasaw Nation, about twenty miles northeast of Cherokee Town in the Chickasaw Nation, which was two miles east of Pauls Valley in currant Garvin County. The posse for Deputy Marshal Bass Reeves were his cousin, John Brady, Floyd Wilson, and William Leech. The posse had five prisoners in custody on the route back to Fort Smith. One member of the posse, Deputy Marshal William Leech, who was also black, brought a stray dog into camp and it started eating out of the skillet on the campfire. Deputy Marshal Bass Reeves told Deputy Marshal Leech not to let the dog eat out of the skillet and to run him off. Leech refused and began to stand up. At the same time Deputy Marshal Bass Reeves was trying to dislodge a stuck cartridge in his .44 caliber Winchester rifle and as he did the rifle discharged and struck Deputy Marshal William Leech in the left neck. Deputy Marshal Reeves tried to stop the bleeding and took Deputy Marshal William Leech to the doctor the next day, but Deputy Marshal Leech died later that day, April 10th. Every indication was that Deputy Marshal Bass Reeves did not deliberately shoot his longtime friend William Leech.

Deputy Marshal Bass Reeves was arrested, charged, and tried at Fort Smith for murder but the jury acquitted him. Bass Reeves continued serving as a Deputy U.S. Marshal until Oklahoma statehood in November 1907.

The burial site of Deputy U.S. Marshal William Leech is unknown.

OLEM – 10S-2-7  NLEOM – 60W7 [Leach]

Updated March 31, 2024

Zed Led “Zebbie” Leeper – Former Captain

Muskogee Police Department

Zed Leeper came to Muskogee in 1913 and worked as a fireman on the KO&G Railroad. Leeper served with the Muskogee Police Department from April 1930 until August 1935, as a Detective and later as Night Captain.

During the early morning hours of Monday, December 7, 1936, Zed Leeper, 48, and Gene Walker, 30, were driving to Fort Smith in Zed Leeper’s Hudson coupe on business. The two men were friends from their employment with the KO&G Railroad.

About a mile east of Warner on Highway 64, the Hudson coupe struck two stray horses in the road causing the Hudson to roll over several times. Gene Walker was only slightly injured but Zed Leeper was pinned under one of the vehicle’s running boards. Leeper was taken to Baptist Hospital in Muskogee suffering from a fractured skull, his left arm broken in three places, a crushed chest, and a ruptured bladder. Emergency surgery was performed but Zed Leeper died later that night from his injuries.

Zed Leeper was survived by his wife and a daughter.

Zed Leeper is buried in Memorial Park Cemetery, Muskogee, Muskogee County, Oklahoma.

Zed Leeper apparently had no law enforcement status at the time of the accident and his death.

OLEM (Ted L Leeper) – 8S-4-20

Updated June 11, 2022

Thomas "Newton"  Lefors (LeForce) - Deputy U.S. Marshal

U. S. Marshal Service December 12, 1894

 Thomas N. LeFors was born June 4, 1853, in Jenny Lind, Arkansas to James and Martha  Mahala (West) LeFors. Thomas was the eleventh of seventeen children (six sisters and ten brothers). Two of Thomas’ brothers would also enter law enforcement. Rufus, who was six years younger than Thomas, would become police officer in Lawton, Oklahoma and would eventually become the Sheriff of Comanche County, Oklahoma. Joe Shelby LeFors, twelve years younger than Joseph, would become a Deputy U.S. Marshal the District of Wyoming and would be instrumental in getting a confession out of Tom Horn, who would be convicted and hung for murder.

Thomas LeFors’s name has been listed as Newton LeForce, Newton LaForce, and Newton LaFlore.

Early the foggy morning of Wednesday, December 12, 1894, Deputy Marshal Thomas LeFors and Deputy U. S. Marshal B. C. Birchfield with a posse of six other men went to a farmhouse near Broken Arrow in the Creek Nation fifteen miles from Tulsa, in search of two train robbers, Buss Luckey and Tom Root. After checking the house and finding it empty, the two deputy marshals started to check a haystack two-hundred yards from the house. The deputies were about one-hundred yards apart with the haystack between them when dogs started barking. The barking awakened Buss Luckey, Tom Root and Root’s wife who were sleeping in the haystack. The outlaws opened fire and a general melee ensued in the dense fog when all of the officers returned fire. The outlaws escaped during the shooting and Deputy Marshal Thomas LeFors was found shot through the back with the bullet exiting out his side. LeFors may have been shot accidentally by one of his own posse. Deputy Marshal Thomas LeFors died the next day on December 13th.

Buss Luckey and Tom Root were arrested several weeks later. Tom Root testified against Buss Luckey who was convicted of the murder of Deputy Marshal Thomas LeFors and sentenced to hang. His case was appealed to the Supreme Court where the conviction was overturned. The second trial ended in an acquittal.

Deputy Marshal Thomas LeFors was buried in the Muskogee Cemetery then later moved to the Greenhill Cemetery, Muskogee, Muskogee County, Oklahoma.

OLEM – 5N-2-13 (LeForce)  NLEOM – 36W17 (LeForce)

Updated December 8, 2023

Ulysses Sterling Lenox - Officer

Drumright Police Department July 2, 1924

Ulysses S. Lenox was born in Rolla, Missouri in 1886. Ulysses Lenox enlisted in the U.S. Army July 12, 1918, and served in France for ten months during World Ward I returning to the United States on July 4, 1919. Ulysses Lenox married Topse Sheldon Grant on October 8, 1922.

On the afternoon of Wednesday, July 2, 1924, a group of four officers from Drumright got in a car and drove off to intercept three men who had just robbed the State Bank of Avery, located seven miles south of Cushing. The bank robbers were headed northeast toward Drumright, which was seven miles away.

About 2:15 p.m. a mile and a half southwest of Drumright the officer’s and the bank robber’s cars passed each other.  As the two vehicles passed, the bank robbers opened fire on the officers’ vehicle, wounding Drumright Chief of Police Jack Ary and Officer Ulysses Lenox. Creek Deputy Sheriff W. D. Norris was cut by flying glass and the fourth officer in the car, Constable A. F. Cline, was not injured. The bank robbers then sped off and escaped. Officer Ulysses Lenox died ten minutes after arriving at the hospital in Drumright.

Officer Ulysses Lenox, 38, left behind his wife Topse and their two young children, Bobby aged three and a half and Peggy June, age nine months.

The exact burial site of Ulysses Lenox is unknown but was buried in the south Drumright Cemetery.

Bank robbers Joe Clayton and Irvin “Blackie” Thompson were charged with Officer Ulysses Lenox’s murder. Joe Clayton pled guilty to the murder and received a life sentence.

Irvin “Blackie” Thompson was tried, found guilty and sentenced to life in prison. On August 30, 1933, “Blackie” Thompson escaped the Oklahoma State Penitentiary. He was recaptured in Texas after robbing several banks in that state. Thompson was sentenced to death for those bank robberies however on July 22, 1934, he escaped from the Huntsville Prison. On December 6, 1934, Thompson was shot and killed by police on Route 66 in Amarillo, Texas in a stolen car.  

OLEM – 9S-1-3  NLEOM – 38E25

Updated September 9, 2024

Donald Ray Leonard - Special Agent

U. S. Secret Service  April 19, 1995

Special Agent Donald Leonard, 51, was serving his twenty-fifth year as a Secret Service agent and had planned to retire that year when he was killed in the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City the morning of Wednesday, April 19, 1995. During his years with the Secret Service Special Agent Donald Leonard was responsible for protecting seven U.S. Presidents plus various political candidates and dignitaries. Special Agent Donald Leonard had also served three-and one-half years as an Oklahoma City Police Officer prior to joining the U.S. Secret Service.

Special Agent Leonard was survived by his wife Diane and three sons Brad, Jason, and Tim.

Donald Leonard is buried in Memorial Park Cemetery, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma.

OLEM – 2N-3-12  NLEOM – 42W20

Updated April 17, 2024

Wilber  H. "Webb" Lester - Officer

Guthrie Police Department  May 29, 1894

Wilber H. Lester was born in Plainville, Illinois on July 12, 1857, to William D. and Evaline D. Lester. Wilber married Evaline “Eva” E. Morris on February 24, 1887.

About 4 a.m. on Tuesday, May 29, 1894, Officers Webb Lester, and Tipton were patrolling Guthrie’s railroad yard when they heard a noise in a boxcar. Officer Webb Lester ordered the man to come out of the boxcar and, when there was no response, climbed into the car. As Officer Webb Lester entered the boxcar, the man inside the box car fired a shot, striking Officer Webb Lester an inch above the right eye. Officer Tipton engaged in a running gunfight with the suspect during which reportedly twenty-eight gunshots were fired but the suspect escaped. A doctor was called to the scene, but Officer Webb Lester had died from his wound.

Wilber H. “Webb” Lester was survived by his wife Eva and their two children and is buried in Shiloh Cemetery, Richfield Township, Adams County, Illinois.

In September, a man named Pearson was charged with Officer Webb Lester’s murder.

OLEM – 9N-2-5 (Webb)  NLEOM –

Updated June 10, 2024

Anderson Lewis - Sheriff

Gains (Pittsburg) County Sheriff’s Office, Choctaw Nation, I.T. November 13, 1905

      On Monday night November 13, 1905, Sheriff Anderson Lewis, 30, was attending a Knights of Pythias oyster supper near Kiowa. A little before midnight two brothers, Henry, and Robert Thompson, were drunk and became disorderly, firing their guns in the air as they rode up and down the street. When Sheriff Anderson Lewis attempted to arrest them, Robert Thompson drew his gun and shot the thirty-two-year-old Choctaw Nation Sheriff four times killing him. Henry Thompson was arrested but Robert Thompson escaped.

Sheriff Anderson Lewis was serving his first term as Sheriff and was survived by his wife Bulah and their two young daughters, Emaline almost 2 and Dorothy 8 months.

Anderson Lewis is buried in Ti Valley Cemetery, Pittsburg County, Oklahoma.

OLEM – 4N-2-3  NLEOM – 59E26

Updated November 5, 2023

Johnson “John”  Lewis – Constable
Tishomingo County, Chickasaw Nation, I.T.     September 29, 1893

On Thursday, September 28, 1893, Constable Johnson Lewis found Nathaniel Zumwalt with a pistol on a street in Ardmore and disarmed him. The next morning, Nathaniel Zumwalt was seen walking up and down the streets, Winchester rifle in hand, apparently looking for someone.

Constable Johnson Lewis was standing in front of Riner & Scwally’s store on Main Street. Approaching Constable Lewis, Nathaniel Zumwalt demanded that Constable Lewis return his pistol. Constable Lewis refused to give the gun up and started to walk off. Constable Lewis had only gone a few steps when Nathaniel Zumwalt called out: “Give me that gun,” at the same time raising and aiming his Winchester rifle toward Constable Lewis. Then Zumwalt fired his rifle and Constable Lewis fell to the sidewalk, gun in hand, in the throes of death, and, without rising, fired a shot at Zumwalt but missed him.

Nathaniel Zumwalt made his way hurriedly through town toward the south but was quickly overtaken and captured by Deputy Marshal Pulliam.

Constable Johnson Lewis is buried at Albertson-Lewis Cemetery, Gibbs Township, Johnston County, Oklahoma.

Nathaniel Zumwalt was tried in the Federal Court in Paris, Texas in April 1896 but the disposition of the trial is unknown.

Tishomingo County, I.T. became part of Carter and Johnston County, Oklahoma after statehood.

OLEM – 10N-3-7  NLEOM –

Updated July 3, 2024

Charles Pinkney Liddell – City Marshal

Marietta February 5, 1901  

On Friday afternoon, January 25, 1901, while in Thackerville, Marietta City Marshal Charles Liddell, 35, and George Hancock became involved in a heated argument over a deal for some land. George Hancock left and obtained a .45 caliber Winchester rifle. Later that afternoon George Hancock observed Charles Liddell near Splawn’s Store and without warning fired several shots at Liddell, one bullet striking Charles Liddell in the groin.

Charles Liddell’s nephew, Vernon, who was with Charles fired at George Hancock with a shotgun and is believed to have slightly wounded Hancock. George Hancock fled the area.

Charles Liddell was transported by train to his home in Marietta. Charles Liddell appeared to be on the road to recovery but died at 2 p.m. the afternoon of Tuesday, February 5, 1901.

Charles Liddell was survived by his wife Callie and four young children and is buried in Lakeview Cemetery, Marietta, Love County, Oklahoma.

George Hancock was arrested in early March and charged with the murder of Marietta City Marshal Charles Liddell who was not acting in an official law enforcement capacity when he was shot in Thackerville.

OLEM – 5N-2-10

Updated July 7, 2024

John  Edward "Ed" Liggett - Officer

Talihina Police Department  August 13, 1966

About 4 a.m. the morning of Saturday, August 13, 1966, Talihina Police received several calls on a car causing a disturbance in the Meadow Heights Addition. Officers John “Ed” Liggett and Homer Pugh responded to the call. The officers observed a car in the street of the neighborhood with its engine running. As Officer John Liggett drove up behind the car it took off at a high rate of speed. The officers pursued the car through Talihina reaching speeds up to one-hundred-ten miles an hour.

Four miles south of Talihina on U. S. Highway 271 Officer John Liggett lost control of the police car causing it to strike a guard rail and roll over. Officer John “Ed” Liggett, 59, died at the scene within a few minutes of the crash. Officer Homer Pugh, who was slightly injured, climbed out of the wrecked patrol car and walked to a near by farmhouse to summon an ambulance.

Jimmy Noah, the nineteen-year-old driver of the car being pursued, was later arrested.

Officer John Liggett was survived by his wife Leona and a married daughter Geniave Uselton and is buried in the Old Talihina Cemetery, Talihina, Le Flore County, Oklahoma.

OLEM – 7N-5-8  NLEOM –

Updated August 13, 2023

James Robert “JR” Lindsey - Deputy Sheriff

Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office November 14, 1926

On Sunday evening, November 14, 1926, Pottawatomie County Deputy Sheriff James Lindsey, 42, was trailing some armed robbers when he stopped in Meeker in Lincoln County, to solicit help in his search from Lincoln County Deputy Sheriff Dan M. Fuller. Deputy Sheriff Dan Fuller advised that two men tried to rob him recently also and was demonstrating how he drew his gun on the two men when the hammer of the Deputy Sheriff’s gun caught on his key chain causing the gun to discharge. The bullet struck Deputy Sheriff James Lindsey in the head, and he died soon afterwards.

James Lindsey was survived by his wife Minnie and three children and is buried in Fairview Cemetery, Shawnee, Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma.

Deputy Sheriff Dan Fuller was charged with manslaughter in Deputy Sheriff James Lindsey’s death.

OLEM – 9N-1-2  NLEOM – 10W30

Updated November 5, 2023

Jerad Matthew Lindsey - Officer

Tulsa Police Department

Jerad Lindsey, 40, had joined the Tulsa Police Department on March 2, 2005.

Jerad Lindsey had served as a patrol officer and was highly active in the local Tulsa Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge, the state FOP Lodge and at the national level of the FOP.

Jared Lindsey had served as a police officer just over fifteen years, when he contracted the Covid-19 virus and checked positive for it on October 19, 2020. Officer Jerad Lindsey was hospitalized and succumbed to the effects of the Covid virus on October 28th.

At the time of his death Officer Jerad Lindsey was serving as Chairman of the Board of the Tulsa Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police and First Vice-President of the Oklahoma State Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police.

Officer Jerad Lindsey is survived by his wife of sixteen years, Jennifer and young sons Jerry Lynn and Joe Don.

Jerad Lindsey is buried in Grandfield Memorial Cemetery, Grandfield, Tillman County, Oklahoma.

OLEM – 9N-3-19  NLEOM – 31W33

April 26, 2022

Thomas J. Little - City Marshal

City of Dustin August 20, 1927

Thomas J. Little was born February 22, 1874, to David Lowery and Mary Jane (Smith) Little.

On Saturday, August 20, 1927, City Marshal Thomas Little, 53, had seized some illegal liquor and had hidden it until he could come back and transport it. When City Marshal Thomas Little went back to retrieve the hidden liquor, for some unknown reason he took with him a young man named Homer Self, 23. Homer Self was able to get the City Marshal’s gun and shoot City Marshal Thomas Little in the chest with it, killing him. Some believe the seized liquor belonged to Homer Self.

City Marshal Thomas Little was survived by his wife Inez Jane (Rhodd) and an adult daughter Bessie Anita, 28, who lived to be one-hundred years old.

Thomas Little is buried in Fairview Cemetery, Dustin, Hughes County, Oklahoma.

Homer Self was convicted of killing City Marshal Thomas Little.

OLEM – 3S-3-12  NLEOM – 3E22

Updated August 18, 2023

Randy Joe Littlefield - State Trooper

Oklahoma Highway Patrol     January 15, 1990

Monday evening about 6:40 p.m., January 15, 1990, Trooper Randy Joe Littlefield was directing traffic around a disabled vehicle on Highway 20 three miles east of Jay in Delaware County when he was struck by a passing vehicle traveling approximately fifty miles an hour. Trooper Littlefield was pinned under a truck which was assisting the disabled vehicle for almost thirty minutes. Trooper Randy Joe Littlefield died shortly after arriving at the hospital in Grove.

Trooper Randy Joe Littlefield was survived by his wife Brenda and o children, Jason,13, and Lorenda, 11 and is buried in Buzzard Cemetery, Grove, Delaware County, Oklahoma.

Ross England, the driver who struck Trooper Littlefield, was charged with first-degree manslaughter, and driving under the influence of drugs.

OLEM – 2N-2-22  NLEOM – 43W3

Updated July 7, 2024

Charles P. Lloyd - Officer

Sapulpa Police Department

Charles P. Lloyd – Officer

Sapulpa Police Department     February 3, 1934

On Saturday afternoon February 3, 1934, Officer Charles Lloyd was part of a posse searching for the last of three armed robbers. Two of the robbers had been killed and the remaining one, Dupert Carolin, who earlier in the day had killed Sapulpa Chief of Police Thomas Brumley, was wounded and hiding in the hills northeast of Sapulpa.

Officer Charles Lloyd came up on Dupert Carolin in a ditch. The two men fired at each other at almost the same time. Officer Charles Lloyd was struck once above the heart but was able to shoot Carolin before he collapsed and died. Other officers nearby were drawn by the gunfire and shot and killed Dupert Carolin.

Officer Charles Lloyd was survived by his wife and two adopted children and is buried in South Heights Cemetery, Sapulpa, Creek County, Oklahoma.

OLEM – 7N-2-8  NLEOM – 43W11

Updated July 7, 2024

William B. Lockett - Night City Marshal

City of Ochelata June 7, 1922

During the early morning hours of Wednesday, June 7, 1922, Night City Marshal William Lockett observed three men get out of a Ford roadster near Pritchard’s Garage which had been burglarized several times recently. City Marshal William Lockett followed the men and shortly witnesses heard a man yell “You’ve been following us long enough” then heard two shots. City Marshal Lockett was able to fire two shots from his rifle at his assailants before he died from a .38 caliber bullet wound near his heart. It was never proven but Dick Gregg is believed to have been City Marshal William Lockett’s killer.

William Lockett was survived by his wife Ida and daughters Golda and Sylvia and is buried in the Ochelata Cemetery, Ochelata, Washington County, Oklahoma

OLEM – 1N-3-2  NLEOM – 14E20

Updated May 26, 2024

James Robert "Bob" Logan - Deputy U.S. Marshal

U. S. Marshal Service March 9, 1915

James R. Logan was born February 8, 1882, in Tupelo, Lee County, Mississippi to Robert Donald and Malissa J. (Young) Logan.

James Logan married Rozetta Free in 1904.

Noah Emory held a grudge toward Deputy U.S. Marshal James Logan because when James Logan was a Le Flore County Deputy Sheriff, several years before, Logan had shot Noah Emory when Emory resisted arrest. Noah Emory was sent to prison and after his release he resumed his residence in Wister, a small town six miles west of Poteau.

About 11 a.m. on Tuesday, March 9, 1915, Deputy Marshal James “Bob” Logan was walking down Main Street toward the Post Office in Wister, when he was challenged by Noah Emory to come into the street where Emory was standing and fight him, but Deputy Marshal Logan ignored the challenge and continued walking down Main Street toward the Post Office. Noah Emory went into a nearby livery stable on the opposite side of the street and grabbed a double-barreled shotgun and fired one barrel at Deputy Marshal Logan, striking Logan in the right hand and side. Deputy Marshal James Logan started to run for cover when Noah Emory fired the second barrel into Deputy Marshal Logan’s back. Deputy Marshal Logan was knocked down but got to his feet and was able to stagger to the rear of a bank building where he dropped to the ground and died within minutes.

Noah Emory surrendered to Sheriff Wagoner and was jailed in Poteau. Noah Emery entered a guilty plea to a charge of first-degree manslaughter and was sentenced to eighteen years in the state prison. Emory served six and a half years and was paroled on November 4, 1921. Noah Emory received a full pardon on May 24, 1923.

Deputy U.S. Marshal James R. “Bob” Logan is buried in Ellis Chapel Cemetery, Wister, Le Flore County, Oklahoma.

OLEM – 8S-1-17  NLEOM – 62W9

Updated March 8, 2024

George H. Loney - Deputy Sheriff

Okfuskee County Sheriff’s Office  May 2, 1911

On Tuesday, May 2, 1911, Deputy Sheriff George Loney and three other officers were at the home of a black family named Nelson seven miles northeast of Paden investigating a cow being stolen. While the officers were talking to Oscar Nelson, the father, the mother, Laura Nelson took a Winchester rifle down off the wall and gave it to their fifteen-year-old son, Lawrence who then fired one shot at the officers. The bullet went through one officer’s pants leg and struck Deputy Sheriff George Loney in the leg.

A gun battle broke out with the father, Oscar Nelson, until he ran out of ammunition. It was then discovered that Deputy Sheriff George Loney had bled to death from his leg wound. All three of the Nelson’s were arrested.

The burial site of Deputy Sheriff George Loney is unknown.

Soon after the arrests, the father, Oscar Nelson pled guilty to cattle rustling and was taken to the State Prison at McAlester which probably saved his life. Shortly after midnight on May 24, a mob of Okemah residents broke Laura and Lawrence Nelson out of jail and lynched them from a bridge over the North Canadian River six miles west of town.

OLEM – 8S-1-15  NLEOM – 44E26

Updated April 26, 2024

Davey "Crockett" Long - Agent

State Crime Bureau (OSBI)       July 17, 1932

Agent Davey “Crockett” Long, 39, was a former Chief of Police of Madill. In that capacity he had arrested Wiley Lynn, the former Prohibition Agent who had killed Cromwell’s City Marshal Bill Tilghman in November 1924. Wiley Lynn was acquitted of City Marshal Bill Tilghman’s murder at his second trial and still carried a grudge against former Chief Long.

On Sunday afternoon, July 17, 1932, Wiley Lynn walked into the Corner Drug Store in Madill and saw Agent “Crockett” Long sitting at a table with his back toward Wiley Lynn talking to friends. Wiley Lynn started walking toward Agent “Crockett” Long with his gun drawn stating “All right Crockett Long, throw them up, I’m going to get you sometime and it might as well be now.”

Agent “Crockett” Long instantly stood up and turned to face Wiley Lynn while drawing his .44 caliber revolver. Wiley Lynn fired, striking Agent Long in the leg, knocking him to the floor. Agent “Crockett” Long emptied his gun striking Wiley Lynn four times as Lynn continued firing all six of his rounds with four hitting Agent Crockett Long.

Agent Davey “Crocket” Long died a couple hours later at 5:45 p.m. in an Ardmore hospital.

Agent Davey “Crockett” Long was survived by his wife, Bonnie Lee, and young sons, Aubrey Clark, 16, Homer L., 14, and Kenneth Odel, 12

Davey “Crockett” Long is buried in Woodberry Forest Cemetery, Madill, Marshal County, Oklahoma.

Wiley Lynn died at 5 a.m. the next morning, July 18, 1932.

OLEM – 8S-5-3  NLEOM – 33W4

Updated July 7, 2024

James Alvin Long - Trooper

Oklahoma Highway Patrol     July 11, 1942

At 2:30 a.m. the morning of Saturday, July 11, 1942, Trooper James Long, 32, had just gotten off duty and was driving home north on N. Broadway by Winan’s Park just south of NW 23rd Street in Oklahoma City when he heard a young woman, eighteen-year-old Norma Jean Cowan, screaming in the park to his left. He observed her being beat by a man. Trooper James Long stopped his car and got out just as the young woman yelled “Look out! He has a gun!” The man fired four shots from a .32 caliber automatic at Trooper Long hitting him once in the chest. The man then ran southeast across Broadway past the downed Trooper and disappeared behind a fence on the south side of the Borden Dairy plant.

Witnesses called police and an ambulance. Norma Jean Cowan and Trooper James Long were both transported to Policlinic Hospital where Trooper Long died at 4:30 a.m. that Saturday morning becoming the first Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper to die in the line-of-duty by gun fire.

James Long was survived by his wife Mildred Mae (Bennett) and is buried in Memorial Park Cemetery, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma.

Norma Jean Cowan, a waitress at Beverly’s Restaurant, 2429 N. Lincoln, was walking home after getting off work at 2 a.m.

No one was ever prosecuted for Trooper James Long’s murder.

OLEM – 7N-3-18  NLEOM - 28W17

Updated July7, 2024

John Long – Deputy Sheriff

1918 – 1927

Mr. Bivin’s notes indicate that this name was an erroneous duplication of John O. Lung.

OLEM – 8S-3-2

Updated July 7, 2024

Samuel Calvin Long - Sheriff

Love County Sheriff’s Office January 30, 1928

Shortly after noon on Wednesday, January 25, 1928, Sheriff Samuel Long, 55, responded to a “trouble” call at the Love County National Bank in Marietta. The “trouble” was a bank robbery in progress by two men. One man, Haney Ledell, was in the vault while the other, Oscar Boyd Harrison, held everyone at bay. When Sheriff Long walked into the bank, Boyd Harrison, the man holding everyone at bay got the drop on Sheriff Long and told him to join the others against the wall. Sheriff Long instead drew his gun and shot Boyd Harrison dead. At the same time the other robber, Haney Ledell, was coming out of the vault and shot Sheriff Long three times before fleeing town with citizens shooting at him along the way.

Initially Sheriff Samuel Long’s health improved but he developed pneumonia and died five days later Monday, January 30, 1928.

Samuel Long, a remarried widower, was survived by his second wife of one-year Ina and nine of the ten children from his first marriage.

Samuel Long is buried in Lakeview Cemetery, Marietta, Love County, Oklahoma.

OLEM – 1N-1-20  NLEOM – 12E19

Updated January 18, 2024

George Loper - Officer

Pauls Valley Police Department May 27, 1935

Shortly after midnight on Monday, May 27, 1935, a car pulled up near Officer George Loper as he made his rounds and the three men inside told him to throw up his hands. At first Officer George Loper, 40, thought it was a joke then he observed that the other night officer, George Longacre and his friend who was accompanying him on his rounds were also in the car and realized they had been kidnapped.

Officer George Loper started to draw his gun but was shot through the heart by one of the men in the car. The men released the other night officer George Longacre and his friend outside of town.

Within a week the three suspects, Charles Sands, Ray “Pete” Traxler and Leon Siler, the man who shot Officer George Loper, robbed a bank, and killed Grady County Deputy Sheriff James E. Wilson.

Officer George Loper was survived by his wife and eight-year-old daughter and is buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Pauls Valley, Garvin County, Oklahoma.

Charles Sands and Leon Siler were put to death in the state’s electric chair on June 11, 1937.

OLEM – 8S-4-17 (Luper)  NLEOM – 52E22

Updated May 23, 2024

Michael Lee Loudenslager - Reserve Deputy Sheriff

Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office  April 19, 1995

Michael Loudenslager, 48, worked for the General Services Administration (GSA) as a planner/estimator on the first floor of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City.

At 9:02 a.m. the morning of April 19, 1995, a truck bomb exploded in front of the Murrah Federal Building destroying most of the building.

Captain James Rouse of the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office was one of the first law enforcement officers to arrive on the scene of the bombing. He was immediately contacted by Reserve Deputy Loudenslager who was in the Murrah Building when the bomb exploded but survived the blast. Captain Rouse activated Deputy Loudenslager to help with rescue efforts. Deputy Sheriff Michael Loudenslager rescued a couple people in the building before contact with him was lost. His body was found April 23 under rubble of the building that had apparently collapsed afterwards.

Reserve Deputy Sheriff Michael Loudenslager was survived by his wife Bettie and their two children Diana and Kyle.

Michael Loudenslager is buried in Memory Lane Cemetery, Harrah, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma.

OLEM – 10S-2-16  NLEOM – 40E31

Updated April 17, 2024

Ed Love – Deputy U.S. Marshal

U.S. Marshal Service     1888 - 1897

Mr. Bivins notes indicate that Deputy U.S. Marshal Ed Love served less than a year as a deputy, was stationed in Chickasha and was killed by a horse thief he trailed into Texas in 1894. No record of his death can be located.

OLEM – 5N-3-20

Updated July 7, 2024

J D Lovett – Deputy Sheriff

Jackson County Sheriff’s Office September 6, 1959

J D Lovett was born December 23, 1915, at Headrick, Jackson County, Oklahoma to Joseph Dudley and Hallie Augusta (Parks) Lovett.

J D Lovett, 21, married Ethel Dean Crider, 19, on October 6, 1934, in Friendship, Jackson County, Oklahoma.

In 1954 J D Lovett became an Altus police officer and served as an officer until May 1957, when he accepted a position as a Deputy Sheriff for Jackson County.

Early Sunday morning September 6, 1959, Deputy Sheriff J D Lovett, 43, was making an investigation in the 500 block of South Hudson in Altus. Deputy Sheriff Lovett was walking toward a house when he suffered a heart attack. Deputy Lovett was transported to Jackson County Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival at 4:20 a.m.

J D Lovett was survived by his wife Ethel and adult daughters, Shirley Ray, 23, and Beverly Anne, 21, and is buried in Altus Cemetery, Altus, Jackson County, Oklahoma. J D Lovett’s wife Ethel died in 2002 and is buried next to him.

OLEM – 10S-2-20  NLEOM –

Updated March 8, 2024

Timothy Evan Lowry – Reserve Deputy Sheriff

Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office September 30, 2011

About 8 p.m. Friday, September 30, 2011, Reserve Deputy Sheriffs Timothy “Tim” Lowry, 56, and “Mike” Roberts were working as a team for the Warrant Section of the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office when their county unit topped a hill and collided with a tractor-trailer rig on State Highway 39 east of Asher, killing both deputy sheriffs.

Deputy Sheriff Timothy Lowry was survived by his wife Kathy, his twin daughters Michelle and her husband Todd Jesse and Melissa Wilson and her fiancé, James Griffin, his son Jason Lowry, and his wife Kandice.

Timothy Lowry is buried in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Asher, Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma.

OLEM – 9S-3-5  NLEOM – 31W28

Updated September 28, 2023

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 shotgun 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

Joseph P "Joe"  Lundy - Deputy U.S. Marshal

U. S. Marshal Service   June 10, 1889

On Monday, June 10, 1889, Deputy Marshal Joseph Lundy traveled into the Pottawatomie Nation trying to locate and arrest Nocus Harjo on a warrant for horse theft.

About 3 p.m. on Friday, June 14, R. S. Moon, who lived about three miles east of Econtuchka, located in extreme northwestern portion of the Seminole Nation, heard gunshots near his home. Moon began looking around the area for the cause of the shots. A couple hours later, Moon found the dead body of Deputy Marshal Joseph Lundy. He had been shot in the right side of the head at close range.

Deputy Marshal Joseph Lundy was buried where he fell by Moon and others.

Deputy U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves was assigned to investigate Deputy Marshal Lundy’s death. Evidence pointed to Nocus Harjo, Billy Wolf and a man named Prince, as the killers. Deputy Marshal Bass Reeves was able to get warrants issued for the three men.

In December Deputy Marshal Bass Reeves returned to the area with the warrants and arrested the three suspects. The three men were arraigned in front of Judge Isaac Parker in Fort Smith on January 4, 1890, were bound over for trial but allowed to post bond. After a few delayed court dates the case against the three men was dismissed for lack of evidence. No one was ever convicted of the murder of Deputy Marshal Joseph Lundy.

OLEM – 5N-3-18  NLEOM – 10E15

Updated June 3, 2024

John Owen. Lung - Deputy Sheriff

Okmulgee County Sheriff’s Office  September 15, 1922

On Friday night, September 15, 1922, Deputy Sheriff John Lung recognized Earl Pomeroy in a car with another man and woman as it entered the Continental Garage in Sapulpa. Earl Pomeroy was a suspect in a business burglary Deputy Sheriff Lung was investigating.

As Deputy Sheriff John Lung and Sapulpa Chief of Police Ralph Morey entered the darkened garage, they were fired upon by one of the men. Deputy Sheriff Lung was struck in the left side, the bullet piercing his heart and right lung. Chief Ralph Morey was unharmed. Deputy Sheriff John Lung was placed in a car to be taken to the hospital, but the car wrecked only two blocks away. Lung was then transferred to another car but was dead on arrival at the hospital.  

Earl Pomeroy and the other man escaped and were never apprehended but the woman, Doris Stanley, was arrested near the scene.

John Lung had served as an Oklahoma City Police Officer before joining the Okmulgee County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputy Sheriff John Lung was survived by his wife Minnie and five children and is buried in Okmulgee Cemetery, Okmulgee, Okmulgee County, Oklahoma.

OLEM – 1N-3-1  NLEOM – 22W20

Updated September 13, 2023

John Cooper Lunsford - Constable

City of Beggs  September 25, 1910

During the early morning hours of Sunday, September 25, 1910, Constable John Lunsford, 46, and Deputy Constable John Colemen were keeping an eye on a dance at a home west of Beggs. Constable John Lunsford was advised that Jake Gooden was carrying a gun. Constable Lunsford searched Jake Gooden but found no gun. Gooden’s companion, a black man named Phillip Love, told Constable John Lunsford that he had a gun and would like to see Constable Lunsford take it away from him. Constable Lunsford ignored the challenge for the moment. A short time later, Deputy Constable John Colemen convinced Phillip Love to give him his gun. Not long afterwards, Constable John Lunsford, not knowing Deputy Coleman had disarmed Phillip Love, got the drop on Love, and searched him. Phillip Love, harboring a grudge over the search, left the dance and obtained a shotgun. Phillip Love then waited outside of the house and, as Constable John Lunsford came out, Phillip Love ambushed him, shooting Lunsford fatally in the neck and throat with the shotgun.

Constable John “Cooper” Lunsford was survived by his wife Martha and ten children ages 18 to 1 year old and is buried in Tuskegee Cemetery #2, Tuskegee, Creek County, Oklahoma.

OLEM – 10S-2-5  NLEOM –  

Updated September 22, 2023

Claude Silas Lynch - Officer

Tulsa Police Department    November 28, 1948

On Sunday night, November 28, 1948, Officer Claude Lynch, 48, a fifteen-year veteran of the Tulsa Police Department and his partner Officer Henry Johnson, were transporting John Camp, 37, to jail on a complaint of discharging a firearm. Officer Henry Johnson was driving with prisoner John Camp seated next to him. Officer Claude Lynch was riding in the back seat with the female complainant. After they had gone a short distance John Camp attack Officer Henry Johnson who was able to stop the patrol car. Officer Claude Lynch got out and ran to the passenger side to restrain John Camp. However, John Camp was able to get control of Officer Henry Johnson’s gun and fired several shots at Officer Claude Lynch. One shot struck Officer Claude Lynch in the throat fatally severing his jugular vein.

Officer Claude Lynch was survived by his wife Mabel and is buried in Fairview Cemetery, Vinita, Craig County, Oklahoma.

John Camp, who was also black, was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to four years in the state penitentiary.

OLEM – 7N-4-8  NLEOM – 12W22

Updated November 20, 2023