William H Butler, Patrolman

Bartlesville Police Department

About 5 A.M. on Tuesday, January 5, 1915, Bartlesville Police received a call from a prostitute that the armed robbers they were looking for were in her place of business. Officers Butler and Whipple were sent to the establishment to investigate. They were directed to a second floor room by the lady. The officers knocked then walked in and found two men, Arthur Martin and Will Putnam. Whipple guarded Martin with his gun while Butler took Putnam in another room to search him. Finding no gun on Putnam, Officer Butler walked back into the first room. As Butler entered the room Martin drew a gun but Butler was able to draw his gun and shoot Martin. As Putnam came up behind Butler from the other room he drew a gun that Butler failed to find during his search and shot Butler in the left side. Martin and Putnam then ran out of the building but Martin fell dead a short distance away and Putnam escaped. Officer Butler was taken to the hospital but died at 8:30 P.M. that night. His wife, son and daughter survived Butler.

Henry Cobb, Patrolman

Bartlesville Police Department

Shortly before 11 P.M., Monday, December 30, 1935, Patrolman Cobb, 62, had gone to 518 South Kaw in reference to a drunken disturbance and attempted to arrest Robert F. Holland. Holland began backing away, drew a gun and shot the officer twice, once in one shoulder and once above the heart. Officer Cobb then struggled with Holland over the gun, during which it discharged and wounded Holland in the left hand. Holland then ran out the back door. Officer Cobb staggered out the front door and collapsed in the street in front of the house. Cobb left behind a wife, two sons and a daughter.

Isaac Lincoln Hicks, Special Officer

Bartlesville 

Shortly before 4:30 A.M. Friday, October 16, 1903, Special Policeman Hicks was making his rounds when he stopped by the Southwest livery stable minute before going off duty. He went into the office and set down. An employee of the stable named Paden was in the office when Hicks came in but left shortly after to tend to some of the horses near the rear of the barn. When Paden returned about half an hour later he found officer Hicks lying on the floor of the office in a pool of blood with a gun shot to his face, just below one eye. Doctors were summoned but Hicks was beyond their help and died shortly afterwards. Later that morning at 9 A.M. a jury was impaneled by U. S. Commissioner Gilluly. After hearing the testimony of a number of witnesses the jury at 2 P.M. returned a verdict that Hick’s death was caused by the accidental discharge of his own revolver. Officer Hicks was buried in the Bartlesville Cemetery.