Vernie Melford Roberts, Reserve Deputy Sheriff 

Delaware County Sheriff’s Office 

Deputy Roberts was shot and killed by a 17 year old male prisoner, Slint Kenneth Tate, he was transferring to a Tulsa County facility on Monday, July 19, 1999. Tate wore leg shackles but no handcuffs. The prisoner was able to get his arm around the neck of the deputy’s wife, Betty Jean, a volunteer for the Delaware County Juvenile Division, who was riding with her husband in the front seat. Deputy Roberts stopped the car on the shoulder of U.S. 412 in Rogers County. The prisoner forced the deputy and his wife out of the vehicle and was able to obtain the deputy’s weapon then shot and killed him. The prisoner then fled the scene in the deputy’s vehicle but was recaptured later in Mayes County after he abandoned the vehicle.

Vernie and Betty Roberts were to celebrate their 43^rd wedding anniversary in August. Vernie Roberts was survived by his wife, two daughters and six grandchildren.