Elmer “Buddy” Moorhead, Detective
Ardmore Police Department
The afternoon of Friday, January 23, 1931, Detective Moorhead went to a “Squatters” camp on Highway 70 east of Ardmore to deliver some tires to a destitute family. While at the camp he noticed two men setting in a green 1929 Buick with no license plate. Moorhead ordered the two men out of the car. The first young man, 18 year old Ray Wilson got out then the second man, Elbert Hart alias Pat O’Day exited the Buick. As O’Day exited the car he produced a gun and ordered Moorhead into the car. O’Day got in after Moorhead and with the gun in Moorhead’s side drove off leaving Wilson standing there. O’Day drove a short distance down the road, turned the Buick around and started back toward Wilson. Just before reaching Wilson a gun shot was heard from inside the car. As the car passed Wilson, Moorhead was pushed from the car and died there beside the road without saying a word. Moorhead was survived by his wife Elizabeth and infant son Jack. O’Day was killed in a shootout with officers in Esteline, Texas on January 29th.
Herbert G. Poe, Police
Officer
Ardmore Police Department
On Monday, March 23, 1970, Officer Herbert Poe ended his shift at the Ardmore Airpark at 4 a.m. Parking his police car, he got on his Honda motorcycle and started home. He drove a block and a half before a Frisco Railroad switch engine and a flatcar loomed up ahead of him. Poe’s cycle left 12 feet of skid marks and then he apparently laid the cycle on its side for 65 feet. Poe was attempting to get the cycle back on its wheels when he smashed into the steps at the rear of the switch engine. Poe, 26, was killed instantly. Officer Herbert Poe was survived by his wife, a daughter, Shana; two sons, Chad and a new son born two hours after Poe was killed.
Bobby Rudisill, Police Officer
Ardmore Police Department
On Thursday, December 22, 1960, Ardmore officer Bobby Rudisill was shot and killed by burglars at the Sooner Foods Store at 1213 N. Washington in Ardmore. Shortly after midnight, a night watchman reported a burglary in progress after hearing noises and discovering that the telephone was not operating. Upon arriving at the store, the officers were directed to a power room and had to climb a flight of stairs to reach the wooden entrance door. Hearing what sounded like chiseling noises, the officers called out to the burglars to surrender. A barrage of shots came through the door hitting officer Rudisill. Rudisill was able to return fire shooting twice as he fell to the floor. His partner, Robert Neasbitt, emptied his revolver into the door. When backup officers arrived they found Arnold Jernigan dead inside the power room. Jernigan was a convicted burglar and bank robber from Fort Worth, Texas. Another man, John Milo Brown, had fled the scene but was arrested two hours later. Melvin Thomas Renfro and Horace Burt Mullins also fled the scene but turned themselves in two days later in Fort Worth, Texas. Renfro was sentenced to life in prison. Jernigan was returned to a prison in California on parole violations. Officer Bobby Rudisill was survived by his wife and 2 year old son.
John A. Simms, Sergeant
Ardmore Police Department
Simms was the night desk sergeant for the Ardmore Police Department. At about 1:30 A.M. on Thursday, May 20, 1920, Simms’ fifty-sixth birthday, two men, Claude Pruitt and Dick Crotzer, arrived at the Police Station from a fishing trip to return a flashlight they had borrowed. Evidently, as a prank, Pruitt and Crotzer unloaded their only catch, a large opossum, on the floor of the office. The animal was dirty and a nuisance and Sgt. Simms ordered it taken out. Pruitt was reluctant to remove the animal, and Sgt. Simms ordered Patrolman Fred Emmerson to remove the animal and Pruitt. Sgt. Simms seeing what he thought was a gun in Pruitt’s pocket ordered the patrolman to arrest him and take charge of the gun. At which time Pruitt jumped into his car and drove off. He turned around at the corner of A and First streets and came back to the station. Sgt. Simms came to the door and walked toward the car apparently intending to arrest Pruitt. Pruitt warned him not to come near the car, but Simms kept walking toward it. Pruitt drew an automatic and fired nine shots, five of which struck Simms, killing him instantly. Two of the bullets barely missed Patrolman Emmerson. Pruitt was immediately placed under arrest and taken to jail. Sergeant John A. Simms was survived by his wife and four children who were preparing a birthday party for him that day.
Charles Washington, Police Officer
Ardmore Police Department
Charles Washington joined the Ardmore Police Department on February 1, 1957. On Monday, April 28, 1958, Officer Washington, 49, was on routine duty and stopped in at the Veterans Cab Company. Robert McIntire, 67, was intoxicated and causing a disturbance. Officer Washington told McIntire to go home. McIntire left but soon returned with a .38 automatic pistol and open fire on the officer striking him in the left forearm, left shoulder and the left side of the stomach. Washington returned fire as he fell to the floor emptying his gun and wounding McIntire under the left armpit and in the right leg. Officer Washington lived almost three months but died from his wounds at 8 A.M. on April 30, 1958. McIntire was then charged with the officer’s murder.
Oscar Wilkes, Assistant
Police Chief
Ardmore Police
Department