August Godfrey Nowka, Officer

Tuttle Police Department 

The night of Sunday, August 20, 1939, Tuttle City Marshal L. C. Force asked Officer Nowka to assist him in arresting three men at the Thompson Cafe who were suspected of committing several robberies in Minco, Enid and Chickasha. The officers found the men, Lee Bowen, 20, Hugh Douglas, 21, and Dorris Schabnitt, 21, at the café and advised them they were under arrest. As the officers began searching the men, Bowen drew a concealed gun and shot both officers. Marshal Force was wounded in the leg while Officer Nowka was shot in the head, neck and lung. Officer Nowka died within a few minutes before a doctor could arrive at the café. Bowen and Douglas, who was wounded by Marshal Force, escaped but Schabnitt surrendered to the wounded marshal. Bowen and Douglas were arrested the next day after being wounded in a chase and shootout near the Kansas line with OHP Troopers. Bowen pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to life in prison. Schafnitt pleaded guilty to robbery also and received a seven year term in prison. Hugh Douglas pleaded guilty to armed robbery with firearm and sentenced to seven years in prison. He later escaped and was killed in a shootout with Oklahoma City Police officers in February 1942.

Officer Nowka was survived by his wife and five children.