Ben L. Bolton, Chief of Detectives

Muskogee Police Department

On the morning of December 3, 1935, a mass jail break at the Muskogee jail was made by five members of the O’Malley gang of bank robbers and one petty thief who had armed themselves. As the prisoners neared the office of Bolton, Bolton stepped from his office, saw the prisoners in the hall, stepped back into his office and got a submachine gun. As Bolton stepped back to the door of his office, one of the prisoners, John Blackburn, aimed his shotgun over the shoulder of the guard he was shielded behind and fired at Bolton. Bolton was hit in the face, just above the mouth, with a shotgun slug and fell without firing a shot. The prisoners picked up the submachine gun dropped by Bolton. The prisoners were involved in another shootout with officers in the station during which John Blackburn was killed, before making their escape. Bolton, 55, died from his wound that night at 9:20 P.M. A wife, son, a stepson and a stepdaughter survived him.

Charles Wilson Bowman, Captain

Muskogee Police Department

While patrolling shortly after midnight the morning of Monday, June 6, 1927 Captain Bowman, 51, and Chief of Police Clark Compton found a Ford parked in the driveway of a service station at Fredonia Street and East Side Boulevard. Two men, R. C. Hansel and Grover Stewart, were asleep inside the car. The officers approached with guns drawn and woke the men up. The men began fighting with the officers and Hansel kicked Bowman’s gun hand causing the gun to discharge. The bullet struck Bowman in the right leg severing an artery causing him to bleed to death. Bowman left behind a wife, a daughter and two sons.

Lewis Franklin Harvey, Officer

Muskogee Police Department

About 10:50 P.M. on Tuesday, March 10, 1908, Officer Harvey, 45, was walking down Third Street with a waiter from the Ruby Restaurant named Jesse G. Cox, 34. Witnesses stated they appeared to be friends having a friendly talk. The two men were seen turning and walking down an alley. Within moments witnesses heard two shots. Jesse Cox walked out of the alley with a gun in his hand and stated he had “just killed Harvey” and for someone to get a policeman. They found the officer lying dead in the alley with both hands in his pockets and his gun still holstered, shot once in the face and once in the abdomen. Cox testified at his trial that Harvey had threatened him with harm if he did not run his prostitute girlfriend out of town. The jury acquitted cox. His wife and three children survived Officer Harvey.

John Edmond Hensley, Officer

Muskogee Police Department

About 8:45 P.M. on Monday, July 30, 1934, Officer Hensley and Officer William M. “Billy” Guy stopped a suspicious taxi cab at the corner of 21st Street and Boston Avenue. The officers thought it odd for a taxi to be in Muskogee with McAlester license plates. The officers were unaware that the cab had been hijacked in McAlester by State Prison escapee Charles Martin who made the cab driver change clothes with him. Martin got out of the cab and was talking to Officer Guy while Officer Hensley moved the police car out of traffic. Martin grabbed Officer Guy’s gun and hit him in the head with it. Officer Hensley got out of the police car and started toward his injured partner when Martin started shooting. Officer Guy was shot through the right thigh and Officer Hensley was hit in the foot, the shoulder and in the chest, grazing his heart. Officer Hensley was able to shoot Martin twice before he fell. Martin died the next morning in the hospital. Officer Hensley died shortly after noon the same day, July 31st, leaving a wife and two sons.

Romie H. Hinson, Officer

Muskogee Police Department

About 8:45 P.M. on Monday, December 3, 1934, Officer Hinson, 50, and Officer William M “Billy” Guy arrested James Vernon during a call to a minor traffic accident. Vernon broke free of the officers and ran to his car. As Officer Hinson pulled Vernon out of his car, Vernon shot the officer in the chest with a .32 revolver. Officer Guy then shot Vernon in the head killing him. Officer Hinson, shot through both lungs, died the morning of Sunday, December 9th

Leslie Jennings, Traffic Officer

Muskogee Police Department

On Monday, July 14, 1924, Officer Jennings had been on the police force two weeks and was riding with S. Pike, Chief of the traffic force. The officers had stopped a motorist at the intersection of Fifth and Broadway, in front of the Muskogee Drug Company. While Officer Jennings, 32, was standing next to the stopped car issuing a citation, a car driven by Robert Venus, 19, sideswiped the police car and struck Officer Jennings. Jennings was knocked 20 feet and landed on his head. Officer Jennings died of his injuries the next morning, July 15th. He was survived by his wife. Robert Venus was charged with manslaughter.

Samuel Henry Neal, Officer

Muskogee Police Department

About 2:20 A.M. on Sunday December 26, 1915, Officer Neal interrupted a business burglary on East Okmulgee Avenue and was shot to death. Officer Neal was survived by his wife, son and daughter. Willie Williams was later convicted of the murder and died in the Oklahoma electric chair on April 13, 1917.

Charles Owen Purdin, Captain

Muskogee Police Department

About 11 A.M. on Wednesday July 31, 1957,Captain Purdin was escorting a funeral procession on his 1956 Harley-Davidson Police motorcycle when he collided with the last car in the procession as it slowed to enter the cemetery. His compound fractured right leg was more serious than first thought and the first week of September his right leg was amputated. He appeared to rally after the operation but developed a blood clot and died the afternoon of Tuesday September 17, 1957. His wife and four children survived Captain Purdin.