Ian Todd Ewing, Deputy Sheriff

Kay County Sheriff's Office

On Thursday, May 6, 1999, about 5:25 P.M. Deputy Ewing, 27, was responding to assist a reserve deputy who had stopped a vehicle possibly containing three armed suspects in a burglary. Deputy Ewing had his emergency equipment activated as he approached Hubbard Street while north bound on Union Street in Ponca City. A van collided with Ewing’s unit in the intersection. Deputy Ewing was pinned in his unit over an hour and a half and died at the scene. His wife, Shawna, survived the deputy.

Syl G. Ford, Sheriff

Kay County Sheriff's Office

Shortly after 9 P.M. on Monday, March 9, 1908, Sheriff Ford and two deputies were returning to Ponca City on the evening train. Several hundred feet short of the depot platform, Sheriff Ford, 47, jumped from the moving train, presumably to avoid being seen arriving at the depot by people for whom he had arrest warrants. He accidentally fell under the train’s wheels and was killed. Newspaper reports stated that his body was almost completely severed at the hips and his legs were “crushed to jelly”. His wife and two children survived Sheriff Ford.

John Middleton, Deputy Sheriff

Kay County Sheriffs Office

About noon on Saturday, July 21, 1923, Deputies John “Two Gun” Middleton, 35, and George “Hookey” Miller went into a cafe in Three Sands. Seated at the counter of the café was Jackson Burns whom had been handled recently by both officers. When Jackson saw the officers enter the café he began shooting at them with his .45 revolver. Neither officer had time to draw their weapons. Deputy Miller was hit three times, collapsed and died on the way to the hospital. Deputy Middleton was also hit three times and died the next day, July 22nd. Jackson was later acquitted of killing Deputy Middleton and was never tried afterwards for the killing of Deputy Miller.

George Daniel Miller, Deputy Sheriff

Kay County Sheriffs Office

About noon on Saturday, July 21, 1923, Deputies George “Hookey” Miller, 55, and John “Two Gun” Middleton went into a cafe in Three Sands. Seated at the counter of the café was Jackson Burns whom had been handled recently by both officers. When Jackson saw the officers enter the café he began shooting at them with his .45 revolver. Neither officer had time to draw their weapons. Deputy Miller was hit three times, collapsed and died on the way to the hospital. Deputy Middleton was also hit three times and died the next day. Jackson was later acquitted of killing Deputy Middleton and was never tried afterwards for the killing of Deputy Miller.