John Henry Hill, Officer

Altus Police Department

About 9:30 P.M. on Friday, September 7, 1934, Officer Hill, 35, was patrolling his beat in the colored section of Altus. The black officer saw two drunk white men, G. Frank Stover, 36, and Earl Rose, 35, in the area. After searching the men for weapons, Officer Hill ordered them to leave the area. Apparently incensed at being ordered about by a black officer, the men went to a nearby pawnshop and bought two .38 pistols. The two men then located the officer at the intersection of Hudson and Nona Streets. The men confronted Officer Hill, who while disarming Rose was shot in the back four times by Stover. Officer Hill returned fire killing Stover before he himself died.