Thomas A. Radford, City Marshal

City of Enid

Thomas A. Radford was elected City Marshal of Enid in 1905. Toward the end of that year, it was told by the Chairman of the Police Committee to the City Council that Radford was the best Marshal Enid ever had. Radford had a strict adherence to the laws and ordinances and with that had made a few enemies. John Cannon was one of them. Cannon had told several people including the Mayor and Police Judge that he was going to kill Radford. Radford closed a rooming house with a reputation of a “house of ill fame” that Cannon and his wife owned. Cannon had previously worked as a Jailer and fell in love and married a local prostitute who frequented the jail cells.

Cannon was trying to rent some rooms above the Coney Island Saloon. When Radford warned the owner not to rent the rooms to Cannon, he was furious.

In the late afternoon of Wednesday, January 10, 1906, Marshal Radford walked into the Tony Faust Saloon at the corner of Broadway and Grand. It was a cold day and Radford walked over to the radiator to warm himself. The back door opened and Cannon entered the bar. He walked completely through the bar without speaking to anyone. He approached Radford and said, “Bad day, isn’t it?” Cannon then pushed a .38 caliber revolver against Marshal Radford’s left chest and fired. The bullet passed close to his heart, through both lungs, and lodged in the right side, near his back.

The marshal gasped for breath and turned to run. He had no chance to draw his weapon. As Radford turned, Cannon fired a second time, this time from behind. The gun was almost against his body again, and the bullet entering near the waist line passed cleared through his body. Radford continued to run through the front door. As he was running, Cannon shot him a third time with the bullet entering his head on the left side between his eye and his ear. Radford fell to the ground.

Cannon went back inside the saloon and called the Sheriff. He was placed in the county jail, but fearing an outbreak of public indignation over the shooting, he was transferred to the Grant County Jail in Pond Creek.

Marshal Radford was still alive and was taken to Dr. Baker’s office. Several physicians examined his wounds and agreed that nothing could be done for the Marshal. Marshal Radford never regained consciousness after the last bullet hit him. He died approximately 30 minutes later. Marshal Radford, 45, was survived by his wife and seven children. Cannon was convicted of the marshal’s murder and sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Bruce Felder Rainey, Chief of Police

Weatherford Police Department

On the evening of Monday, June 23, 1941, Chief Rainey had gone home and changed into other clothes so he could assist and supervise the painting of lines on the streets of the city of Weatherford. At 9:30 P.M. his car was found abandoned about a mile west of the city on Highway 66. The keys were missing, however, a shotgun and police whistle were found inside. Chief Rainey was no where to be found.

A massive search effort began. It was about noon on July 3^rd that Rainey’s decomposing body was found in a rock crevice two miles south of Weatherford. An autopsy report indicated blunt force trauma on the left side of his head causing a fractured skull, and three bullet wounds to the head which apparently occurred after he had been thrown in the rock crevice. His billfold was still on his body, but missing were his keys, gun and watch.

The break in the case, which followed three months of intensive investigative work by Sheriff Everett Stambaugh, other Custer County Officers and the State Highway Patrol’s division of investigation, came during a routine police arrest on June 29^th. A Chickasha man was charged with burglary and illegal possession of a pistol when a finger print expert happened to see the pistol and remarked it was the same make and model as the one that killed Chief Rainey. Tests proved the pistol was in fact the same weapon used to murder Rainey.

John Calvin Butler, 24, admitted during questioning that he had been present during Rainey’s abduction and murder, but tried to say he had shot the officer and tried to implicate another person. Since the other person was able to establish a definite alibi, Butler was convicted for Rainey’s murder on October 1, 1941. He was sentenced to life in prison. He was paroled in the spring of 1973.

Bruce Rainey was survived by his wife, Viola, and three children, Hazel, David and Milton.

Sam Houston Randolph, Sheriff

Love County Sheriff’s Office

About 6 P.M. on Friday, May 25, 1934, Sheriff Randolph and Deputy Sheriff Lovell Green went to Thackerville in connection with Randolph’s current campaign for re-election. Green was putting up campaign signs outside of Pinkston’s Store while the sheriff went inside. Randolph has left his gun in the car and was unarmed. Constable John Smith, who over the years had developed some bad feelings toward his former partner Randolph, came along a few minutes later and also went inside Pinkston’s. Inside, the two officers exchanged words and Sheriff Randolph was seen to laugh at Smith, apparently not taking whatever Smith said seriously. Smith started to walk away, then returned to Randolph and told him he was serious. Randolph then slapped Smith in the face. Smith drew his gun and shot Sheriff Randolph through the heart. Sheriff Green rushed inside but was disarmed at gunpoint by Constable Smith who then left the scene.

Sheriff Randolph, 51, died before Deputy Green was able to transport him to an Ardmore hospital. Sam Randolph was survived by his wife Jessie and seven children. Constable Smith later surrendered himself to Ardmore officers. He was charged with and convicted of the sheriff’s murder.

Thomas Henry Rather, Night Policemen

City of Westville

On the evening of Friday, February 25, 1927, Adair County officers were conducting a search for prohibition violators. About 8:45 P.M., Officer Tom Rather and Deputy Sheriff J.W. Duke approached a car parked near the ball park in Westville occupied by two men and a woman, Marion Jewell, Jack Robbins and Mrs. Oma Kirk. As Officer Rather began questioning Jewell, the man got out of the car and shot Rather once in the right side of the chest. The officer died half an hour later after naming Jewell as the man who shot him.

Jewell escaped from the scene but was captured at 9 P.M. the next night. Rather and other officers had confiscated illegal liquor from Jewell’s home and arrested him two months earlier. Jewell admitted the murder to the County Attorney.

Officer Rather, 48, had been a resident of Adair County for 15 years and Westville for 5 years. He was survived by his wife and ten children.

Michael John Ratikan, Patrolman

Oklahoma City Police Department

Michael Ratikan joined the Oklahoma City Police Department on January 31, 1968, following his service in the U.S. Air Force. Of his six brothers, three of them joined the New York City Police Department.

Just before midnight on Monday, June 14, 1971, Officer Ratikan and his partner, Charlie Shelden, stopped eight suspects in a car at N.E. 14^th and Kelley. A hospital security guard had informed the officers that a suspicious car had been prowling through the parking lots of the medical center complex. The officers stopped the car just east of the Veterans Administration Hospital. As Ratikan attempted to question the driver, Raymond Fowler, he tried to run away. Ratikan pursued, caught Fowler across the street and the two men went down to the ground struggling with each other. As Officer Shelden ran to assist his partner, Raymond’s brother, Jerry Lewis Fowler, got out of the car and fired several shots, striking Ratikan once under the arm. The bullet penetrated the aorta, killing Ratikan almost instantly. As the other six suspects started running away, Officer Shelden managed to hold on to Raymond Fowler with one arm and shoot another suspect in the leg. Jerry Lewis Fowler escaped but was arrested the next day in a south Oklahoma City housing project. He was tried and convicted of Officer Ratikan’s murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. Mike Ratikan was survived by his wife and two children.

John E. Ratliff, Sheriff

McClain County Sheriffs Office

Saturday morning about 11 a.m. May 9, 1925, City Marshal of Purcell, M. L. Thomas was attempting to arrest Lester Rains, who was described as a maniac with super strength. Sheriff Ratliff and Undersheriff J. E. Daugherty arrived to assist Thomas. As Daugherty approached, Rains drew a knife and stabbed him deep in the right shoulder. Sheriff Ratliff struck Rains with a club but Rains forced it away from him. Ratliff then drew his gun and fired at Rains but missed and Rains grabbed the gun away from him. Rains then shot Ratliff twice, once in the right chest and in the groin. Rains was finally shot down with five gun shoot wounds by Daugherty and other deputies. Ratliff was treated by a local doctor then soon sent by train to a hospital in Oklahoma City where he died at 8 P.M. that night. Rains died the next morning from his wounds. Undersheriff Daugherty’s stab wound was treated but he died two months later from the effects of his wound when a blood clot broke loose and went to his heart. Ratliff was survived by his second wife Myrtle and adult son James. James was the only living child of seven born to Ratliff and his first wife who died in 1903.

Morris Robert Reagan, Patrolman

Oklahoma City Police Department

Officer Reagan was walking a beat in the 1000 block of North Broadway about 1:00 A.M. on Friday, February 25,1910. Witnesses reported hearing a gunshot and seeing a black man running south on Broadway. Reagan was found lying on the sidewalk, shot once in the head, his gun still holstered. Responding officers, led by Assistant Chief Joe Burnett, apprehended William Martin still running south on Broadway at 4^th Street. Martin was indicted for the slaying. Officer Reagan was survived by his wife, a ten year old son and a twelve month old daughter. Regan was the nephew of John R. Reagan, former U.S. Senator and Postmaster General of the Confederacy under Jefferson Davis.

George Wilson Reddick, City Marshal

City of Arnett

Shortly after 4:00 A.M. on Tuesday, December 13, 1932, 56 year old Arnett City Marshal George Reddick arrested a man and woman for burglary of a service station. Marshal Reddick had frisked the man but not the woman. While standing on the running board of the suspects Model A Ford, Marshal Reddick directed the man to drive to the jail. Along the way the driver started speeding up. While Marshal Reddick was desperately trying to hold on, the female suspect shot him in the neck killing him instantly. The couple was later apprehended, tried and convicted of the Marshal’s murder. Marshal Reddick was survived by his wife and seven children.

Webster Reece, Deputy Sheriff

Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office

Deputy Reece formed a posse to try to capture the killers of a woman named Susie Sharp who was murdered near Braggs on September 2, 1932. Reece had received information that the suspects were three men named Tom “Kye” Carlisle, Troy Love and Bud McClain. Carlisle and Love were convicted bank robbers.

Reece’s posse consisted of Cherokee County Deputy Sheriff Frank Edwards, Special Deputy Tom Cook and Ray Crinklaw, an Oklahoma National Guardsman with previous law enforcement experience.

On the morning of Saturday, September 17, 1932, the possemen set up a roadblock on a curve of a rural highway near Standing Rock on the Illinois River about 20 miles south of Tahlequah in hopes the suspects would travel that road. The police car was pulled across the highway to serve as the roadblock. Deputy Sheriff Reece stood by the police car while the other posse took a more concealed position. Reece wanted to be the first to see the suspects and told the posse he would signal them with a flashlight.

Shortly after 4 A.M. the suspects came driving around the curve at a speed higher than Reece expected. As they braked the car rapidly, a tire blew on their car. As the car spun to a stop, Deputy Reece signaled the rest of the posse with his flashlight. One of the suspects in the suspects car on the passenger’s side using the flashlight as an aiming point, fired once, hitting Deputy Reece fatally. The other officers began firing and Deputy Edwards was wounded less seriously by the return fire.

When the firing died down, the possemen approached the car to find Bud McClain dead behind the steering wheel but Carlisle and Love had escaped on foot. Another posse was formed and trapped the fugitives the next day. Two more officers, Andrew McGinnis and Hurt Flippin were killed during that gunfight as were the two suspects.

Charles Roy Reed, Sheriff

Okfuskee County Sheriff’s Office

On Wednesday, December 27, 1922, a black man named Ben Wisener became involved in a domestic dispute. His wife’s younger sister had run away and Wisener suspected she was being hidden by a Creek Indian named Thomas Lewis. Wisener went to Lewis’ home, became involved in an argument with him and pulled agun on Lewis. Wisener left Lewis’ home and went to the home of Joe Bennett (who he also suspected of hiding the girl) some nine miles south of Okemah. Wisener notified Okfuskee County Deputy Sheriffs Charles Reed and Wash Proctor that he was going to Bennett’s. The two officers went to Joe Bennett’s place and found Ben Wisener sitting in his car nearby. As they approached the car and called for Wisener to surrender himself, Wisener opened fire on the officers. Deputy Reed was shot fatally in the chest, but managed as he was falling to shoot three times hitting Wisener once in the face. Deputy Proctor also returned fire, killing Wisener, hitting him three more times.

Newspaper reports indicated that Deputy Reed was a highly respected officer who had been a deputy since before statehood in 1907.

Orin Henry “Ott” Reed, Chief of Police

McAlester Police Department

Chief Orin “Ott” Reed had become very familiar with a gangster by the name of Frank Nash. He had assisted Federal agents in identifying and arresting Nash in Hot Springs, Arkansas. On Saturday, June 17, 1933, Chief Reed accompanied the agents in transporting Nash to Kansas City, Missouri. When the agents got off the train they proceeded to get into cars for the rest of the trip. Reed got in the back seat with two Federal agents when (allegedly) Charles Arthur “Pretty Boy” Floyd, Adam Richette and Vern Miller opened fire on the agents and Chief Reed with machine guns in an apparent attempt to rescue Nash. Killed in the ambush were Frank Nash, Chief Reed, Kansas City officers Frank E. Hermanson and Will J. Grooms, and FBI Agent Raymond J. Caffrey. One witness stated that the first shot fired hit Nash in the back of the head. Nash was seated in the front seat. Speculation has been offered that Chief Reed fired that shot, either hitting Nash accidentally while trying fire at the machine gunners, or deliberately to make sure Nash was not rescued. Five months later, Vern Miller’s body was found dumped outside of Detroit, Michigan, apparently a gangland execution. Floyd was killed by the FBI in October of 1934 and Richetti was arrested the same month. Richetti was executed in 1938.

Robert Reed, Deputy U S Marshal

U. S. Marshals

Robert Reed and Sore Lip Willie had been appointed Deputy U S Marshals for the limited duty of apprehending a black man named Coffey Barnes for stealing horses. The lawmen located Barnes in the Seminole Nation and when Barnes resisted arrest and he was killed in the shootout. Later on Sunday, October 27, 1889, the lawmen were setting on their horses talking to John Halsey at a gate near his home. As the three were talking, five men were observed riding toward the house. As the five men neared the gate they drew their pistols and opened fire on Reed and Willie, shooting them out of their saddles. The lawmen were dead when they hit the ground. The five men then rode away without saying a word. Halsey recognized the men as Cudge Barnett, Prince Hawkins, Ross Ryley, D. Brown and a man he knew only as Lane. No record can be found indicating if the five men were ever arrested for the murder of the deputies.

Donald F. Reis, Correctional Officer

El Reno Federal Reformatory

Donald F. Reis was born in Chillicothe, Ohio on August 22, 1916. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. In 1960 he joined the U.S. Bureau of Prisons as a correctional officer at the Ohio Federal Reformatory in Chillicothe. In 1966 he transferred to the El Reno Federal Reformatory. In August of 1974 he was promoted to Senior Officer Specialist. About 8:30 P.M. the evening of Friday, February 28, 1975, Officer Reis was found dead in the reformatory’s chapel with numerous stab wounds to his neck. A Black Muslim service had been conducted in the chapel earlier. Three inmates, reported to be Black Muslims, were convicted of Correctional Officer Reis’ murder. Officer Reis was survived by his wife and daughter . On January 28, 1986, the Staff Fitness Center at the El Reno reformatory was dedicated in the name of Officer Reis.

Hugh Reynolds, Officer

Seminole Police Department

On the evening of Friday, October 23, 1936, a massive three car traffic accident occurred about one mile northwest of Seminole on Highway 270. The accident happened when Joe Epperson of Tecumseh tried to pass a car driven by J. L. Purser, who was trying to turn left across the highway. While trying to pass Purser, the Epperson car struck another car belonging to R.B. James, Epperson and his wife were killed in the resulting crash, eleven other people were injured and a crowd gathered while police were being summoned.

One of the first four responding officers on the scene was Hugh Reynolds. He, along with other officers, began caring for the injured, directing traffic around the accident scene and trying to disperse the gathering crowd. During these actions, one of the officers saw another vehicle approaching the accident site at a high rate of speed. When he saw that the speeding car was not going to be able to avoid the wrecked cars on the highway, he yelled at the other officers to get out of the way. Officer Reynolds had barely finished forcing a group of bystanders off of the roadway when the oncoming vehicle hit him, crashed into the wreckage and pinned him in between them. The force of the crash was so great that it took two wreckers more than two hours to separate the wrecked cars enough to remove the officer’s body.

Officer Hugh Reynolds, 54, had been a deputy sheriff at Cromwell during the boom town days that had cost the life of Bill Tilghman. Following that service, he had been a Constable at Seminole for two years and had been an officer for the Seminole Police Department for the past four years. He was survived by his wife, two sons and four daughters.

Wilbur Tucker, the driver of the other vehicle that killed Reynolds, was determined to have been drunk at the time of the accident. Murder charges were filed against the 50-year-old carpenter the next day. A few days later, R.B. James died from his injuries, becoming the fourth fatality from the accident.

William Thomas Reynolds, Officer

Chandler Police Department

At 8:45 P.M. on Saturday, February 27, 1926, Officer Reynolds had just turned a drunken prisoner over to the jailer at the county courthouse in Chandler when he suffered a fatal heart attack. His obituary stated that Reynolds had served almost 20 years with the Chandler Police. Reynolds was born in Steeleville, Missouri on February 26, 1859. He moved to Oklahoma in 1901 and joined the Chandler Police before statehood. He turned sixty-seven the day before he died. Officer Reynolds was survived by his wife and five children.

Donald Eugene Rhodes, Chief of Police

Quapaw Police Department

On the evening of Saturday, October 28, 1995, Rhodes was assisting members of the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol at an injury accident scene at the intersection of State Highways 10 and 37. While Rhodes was directing traffic around the accident scene, a vehicle came speeding over the hill. After almost colliding with the accident scene, the diver turned around and sped off, pursued by Chief Rhodes and an OHP trooper. Catching the suspect after a short pursuit, Rhodes handcuffed the suspect and then fell to the ground, apparently having suffered a heart attack. He was transported to a hospital in Miami but died at 1:20 A.M. the following morning, October 29^th.

Donald R. Richardson, Chief of Police

Davenport Police Department

Richardson was not only the Chief of Police but the only police officer in Davenport and Constable of District Six in Lincoln County which made him responsible for law enforcement in the wards of Davenport, South Keokuk, South Fox and Chandler Township.

About 9 A.M. on Tuesday, January 24, 1967, Richardson had gotten off duty and went to his home. As he was taking off his uniform, he tossed his pistol onto a chair and it accidentally discharged. The bullet hit Richardson in the left side of his abdomen and lodged in his right shoulder. He died about 6 P.M. after emergency surgery. Chief Richardson, 32, was survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.

James E. Richardson, Deputy U.S. Marshal

U.S. Marshals

J.E. Richardson, his wife, child and sister moved to Ft. Smith, Arkansas from Texas to start a new life. In September 1885, he accepted an appointment as a Deputy U.S. Marshal offered him by U.S. Marshal John Carroll of the Western District of Arkansas. Richardson, during the six months he served, made numerous trips into the Indian Territory, serving arrest warrants, subpoenas, and other federal process.

Richardson and his posse returned to Ft. Smith on March 15, 1886, with three prisoners, lodging them in the federal jail. John Vann, Robert Childers, both black men, and T.J. Ellis, a white man, were all charged with assault with intent to kill. Although these three had been arrested and transported to Ft. Smith peacefully, all had not gone well on the trip. Richardson had arrested a man named William “Bill” Pigeon on a charge of murder and had taken him back to the camp the lawmen had set up near Pryor, in the Cherokee Nation. Pigeon was accused of murdering Joseph Rogers in 1882 and had been a fugitive ever since. After leaving Pigeon in the care of his posse, Richardson left camp to make another arrest in the same area. Upon returning to camp, the deputy discovered that Pigeon had escaped and was again at large. The decision was made to transport the three prisoners they had in custody to Ft. Smith and then return to Pryor to track down Pigeon.

Richardson spent the next eight days with his family, leaving Ft. Smith on March 23^rd for the trip back into Indian Territory. On Monday, March, 29, 1886, Richardson and his posse located Pigeon ten miles east of Pryor, at Choteau Station. This time Pigeon resisted arrest and a gunfight ensued, resulting in the shooting death of Deputy Richardson. Richardson’s posse emptied his pistol at Pigeon, all apparently missing their target as the outlaw made good his escape. Richardson’s body was transported back to Ft. Smith and buried in the Oak Cemetery.

A $500 reward was offered for the arrest of Pigeon. It appears lawmen made several attempts to locate and arrest Pigeon, but no record can be found of his capture.

Dave Ridge, Sheriff

Saline District, Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory

Jess Sunday was just completing a term as Sheriff of Saline District and his half brother, Dave Ridge, had been elected to take his place. About noon on Sunday, September 20, 1897, Sheriff-Elect Dave Ridge was on his way to the Baggett store to pick up some items his wife had sent him for. Ridge ran into some friends and had several drinks with them. Realizing that it was late, about 6:00 p.m., and he still needed to get the items from the store, Ridge headed over to the Baggett store which was closed. Desperate to get the items for his wife, he began banging on the door to the store. Tom Baggett and his family lived above the store. Baggett leaned out of the window above the store and told Ridge to leave because he was drunk. Baggett had closed the store early that day due to the rowdy drinking of several men and a warning there might be trouble later. As Ridge and Baggett argued over the closed store, a shot came from across the street hitting Baggett and killing him. Ridge stayed around with a gathering crowd to help Mrs. Baggett and her four daughters.

About an hour later, two witnesses, one of whom was Jesse Sunday’s son, Andy, and Dave Ridge met two men on a trail about 200 yards away from the shooting scene. The two men were Sampson Rogers and Wilson Towery. Ridge confronted Rogers with the fact that he had seen him fire the shot that killed Baggett. Rogers, enraged, then hit Ridge over the head with a whiskey bottle. Andy Sunday then stepped out and got the men to leave his uncle alone. Dave Ridge died from his head injuries that night.

Sheriff Jesse Sunday was then ten miles east of Saline guarding some prisoners when the killings occurred. Notified of the murders, he rode to Saline and began investigating. He deputized several men including Wilson Towery and Cooie Bolin, both of whom had witnessed the Ridge murder. Sunday and Bolin went to the nearby home of Jim Teehee to see if anyone there had witnessed anything. John Colvard and Martin Rowe were sitting on the porch, Colvard with a rifle across his lap. Sunday took the rifle away from Colvard without resistance, talked with the men and was told they knew nothing of the killings.

Bolin and Sunday walked back to their horses when Rowe opened fire on them hitting Sunday. Sunday dropped Colvard’s confiscated rifle, Bolin picked it up and began firing at the fleeing Martin Rowe while the wounded Sheriff Sunday was trying to catch his horse.

Andy Sunday found his wounded father by a tree near the Teehee home the next morning. He took him to the Teehee home where the sheriff died that night. Jesse Sunday was survived by his wife, three sons and three daughters.

Sampson Rogers was indicted for the murder of Dave Ridge but was freed after witnesses refused to testify against him. Sheriff Dave Ridge was survived by his wife and four children.

Richard Oldham Riggs, Master Patrolman

Oklahoma City Police Department

Just before 9:00 P.M. on Tuesday, January 7, 1986, an armed robbery occurred at Tom’s Market at 1000 NE 36^th in Oklahoma City. Master Patrolman Richard Riggs and his rookie partner, Ronnie Gravel, just a few minutes later spotted a van, at a service station at NE 36^th and I-35, thought to have been used in the robbery. Riggs got out of his police car and approached the van as a man who jumped out of the van and fired several shots at Riggs. Riggs was hit twice but was able to return fire at the man. The man then fired at Officer Gravel as he came around the back of the van. Officer Gravel fired several shots at the man as he ran away. Ronald Keith Boyd was arrested at a southwest Oklahoma City residence the next afternoon after a 19-hour search and a standoff with police. Ronald Keith Boyd was tried, convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of Riggs. Boyd was executed by lethal injection just after midnight on April 27, 2000. Richard Riggs was survived by his wife of one year, Christine, a step-son, Nicholas, and a daughter, Angel.

W.H. “Pat” Riley, Chief Sergeant

Oklahoma State Penitentiary

On Monday, December 13, 1943, prisoner L.C. Smalley told Sgt. Riley that he had been robbed of a watch and $30 by two other prisoners. Smalley told Riley that the men who robbed him were Mose Johnson and Staley Steen. About 3:15 p.m., Sgt. Riley located both suspects in the boiler room where they worked. As he questioned them about the robbery, Johnson hit Riley over the head with a piece of pipe, and Steen stabbed him in the face and back with a knife. Leaving the officer on the floor, the two inmates then ran to the canteen where Smalley worked behind the counter. When the two ran in the canteen, the other inmates ran out before Johnson killed Smalley with an ice pick. Other officers arrested the two in the canteen but not in time to save Smalley. Sgt. Riley was survived by his wife, a daughter and four sons.

Both Johnson and Steen were tried for both murders. Stanley Steen was given a death sentence for murdering Sgt. Riley but cheated the electric chair by slashing his wrist and committing suicide before his execution date. Mose Johnson was given a life sentence for killing Riley but a death sentence for murdering Smalley. Johnson was electrocuted on November 1, 1946.

Clifford W. Roberts, Agent

Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation

On Tuesday, March 14, 1967, Agent Roberts car slammed into the side of a Rock Island train at about NW 5^th and Portland, west of the State Fairgrounds Arena. His southbound car struck the side of the second diesel locomotive pulling the California-bound passenger train. The front end of Robert’s car was ripped apart and the agent’s body was thrown beneath the train. Roberts was on his way home to lunch when the accident happened. Agent Roberts was survived by his wife and one son.

Michael Don Roberts – Reserve Deputy Sheriff

Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office

About 8 P.M. Friday, September 30, 2011, Reserve Deputies “Mike” Roberts and “Tim” Lowery were working as a team for the Warrant Section of the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office when their unit topped a hill and collided with a tractor-trailer rig on State Highway 39 east of Asher, killing both deputies.

Samuel Elgen Roberts, Posse, Deputy U. S. Marshal

U.S. Marshals

Deputy U.S. Marshal E.J. Sapper had hired Sam Roberts as his posse. They had worked together for some time, both being thought of as efficient officers. One of Sapper’s duties was the suppression of illegal alcohol in the Territory. At 11:30 a.m. on the morning of Friday, July 5, 1907, the officers approached the cider stand at the Knights of Pythias lodge picnic, operated by Eugene and Ben Titsworth. The Titsworth brothers were suspected of selling illegal liquor. Sapper and U.S. Interior Department Special Investigator W.E. “Pussyfoot” Johnson had previously raided the Titsworth home looking for illegal liquor. After telling the Titsworth brothers that he suspected their cider contained illegal liquor, Sapper walked into the stand. Titsworth grabbed Sapper and they began scuffling. Sam Roberts had walked in behind Sapper and as he approached Sapper to help him, Thomas Patton, also known as Jack Baldrige, Bill Williams or Bill Johnson, drew a pistol and fired at Roberts. Roberts was hit in the head by the first bullet and fell face down. He died immediately. Patton, or Baldridge as he was better known, turned his gun on Sapper and fired twice, the first shot missing Sapper, but the second hitting him above the left ear. As Sapper fell to the floor, Baldridge fled the scene. An intense manhunt was started with Deputy U.S. Marshals Grant Cowan and Will Ruble leading one posse and Deputy U.S. Marshal Bud Ledbetter leading a second. Six days later, Ledbetter and his posse came across Baldridge and John Adkins near Whitefield. Both men were arrested. The lawmen found three guns on the men when they were searched. It was discovered that Baldridge was really Thomas Patton. Trial for Thomas Patton, or Jack Baldridge, was held in May 1908, the jury returning a verdict of guilty of manslaughter. He was sentenced to serve a term in the Oklahoma State Prison.

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.

William Warfield Roberts, Deputy Sheriff

Comanche County, Texas

On Monday, November 1, 1948, at approximately 8:20 p.m., Deputy Roberts was driving south on U.S. Highway 77, about 5 miles north of Perry, Oklahoma. Deputy Roberts lost control of his vehicle and left the roadway during a light rain. His car overturned and rolled into a telephone pole. Roberts was killed instantly in a one-car accident. Roberts died of a skull fracture.

Deputy Roberts was accompanied by his wife, Edna, and was transporting a prisoner, James W. Duke, 25, from Fairbury, Nebraska back to Comanche County, Texas to face child desertion charges. Mrs. Roberts and prisoner Duke suffered only minor injuries.

Deputy Roberts was survived by his wife, two sons, a daughter and five grandchildren. William Roberts is buried at Oakwood Cemetery, Comanche, Texas.

David Samuel “Sam” Robertson, Constable / Deputy Sheriff

Wolf Township / Seminole County Sheriff’s Office

Seminole County Deputy Sheriff Robertson also served as the Constable for the small town of Wolf, two miles south of Bowlegs. In the early morning hours of Wednesday, December 11, 1929, Robertson was raiding a gambling game in Wolf. Otis Lackey was acting as a lookout for the game but had left his post when Constable Robertson entered the game. Robertson was standing near the game, amiably telling the players to present themselves in front of the judge the next day, when Lackey returned and saw him. Lackey drew a gun and shot the officer twice in the back. Robertson died several hours later. Seminole County Deputies John Poe and Jim Villines arrested Lackey the next day. Lackey was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison.

Deputy Robertson was survived by his wife and seven children.

Ralph Robinson, Special Detective

Rock Island Railroad

In the winter of 1926, railroad officers in Oklahoma City were having trouble with a gang of coal thieves. Detective Robinson started riding the outbound trains during the early morning hours in an attempt to catch the gang of thieves. About 1:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 31, 1926, Robinson was riding an outbound train when he saw a group of men throwing coal off of the train. He pursued the men off the train and the conductor last saw Robinson with three or four black men lined up beside the tracks.

A short time later, Robinson’s dead body was found in the snow-covered railroad yard. He had been shot three times, once in each leg and once just above the heart. One of his own guns, unfired, was in his overcoat pocket. Robinson was known to carry two guns, but there was no sign of the second weapon. Eleven fired .32 caliber shells were found near the body. Robinson was shot with a .32 caliber automatic pistol.

Oklahoma City Police and railroad officers began a massive investigation. One hundred and twelve black men were arrested and put in jail the first day. A few days later, John Scott, Charles H. Thornton and Willie D. Smith confessed and were charged with the murder.

Detective Robinson, 28, had been a Rock Island officer for one year. He was survived by his wife and one child.

William Edgar Robinson, Sheriff

Okmulgee County Sheriff’s Office

Newt Decker, a black man, and Jimmy Grayson, a Creek Indian, got into an argument over a day’s catch of fish on Sunday, November 15, 1908. Both men had been drinking. Grayson made a complaint with the Assistant Chief of Police Henry Klaber. Grayson and Klaber made a search for Decker and found him in a shack at 2^nd and Creek streets in Okmulgee.

Decker was a gunsmith by trade and a crack shot with a rifle and pistol. Decker, on seeing the police approach, burst out the front door with a pistol in each hand. Decker shot Assistant Chief Klaber in the throat without warning. Grayson ran for help. Two brothers, Felix and Ralph Chapman, were deputized by Assistant Chief Klaber to assist him. When they saw Chief Klaber shot and dying, they picked up his gun and fired at Decker. Decker returned fire and killed both brothers. Police Chief Dick Farr road up and tried to assist the fallen Klaber. Decker shot Farr in the right shoulder. Chief Farr took a shot at Decker with his left hand and felt he struck Decker because he saw him whirl around as he fired.

Undaunted, Decker wounded Chief Farr again in the arm. Edgar Robinson, the first elected Sheriff of Okmulgee County, arrived on the scene and was shortly shot dead by Decker. The battle lasted more than an hour with an excess of 500 shots being fired. As they couldn’t get too close to Decker’s house, they set fire to the house next door with coal oil. After Decker’s house caught on fire, Decker came to the door. He was hit by gunfire and fell back into the flames.

Five men died: Decker, Assistant Chief Klaber, the two Chapman brothers and Sheriff Robinson. Chief Farr and a deputy sheriff were wounded along with six bystanders.

Sheriff Robinson was survived by his wife and two young children.

James Robert Robison, Special Detective

Santa Fe Railroad

Shortly after 10:00 a.m. on Monday, February 10, 1986, Special Agent James Robison lost control of his car due to the snow and slush on the roadways in Oklahoma City. His patrol car was struck by an Oklahoma, Kansas & Texas Railroad train knocking his patrol car approximately 102 feet from the point of impact. Agent Robison was transported to a local hospital where he died from his injuries at approximately 11:35 a.m. He was survived by his wife.

Fletcher Rodgers, Constable

McCurtain County Sheriff's Office

Fletcher Rodgers had been a Constable for the McCurtain County Sheriff’s Office from 1917, working for the areas of the Frisco Township initially and later in the areas of Tom and America near the Arkansas-Oklahoma state lines. On Friday night, December 28, 1934, Constable Rodgers had gone to the Crocker farm to trade a horse. Later that night he and Mr. Crocker went to assist young Crocker who got his truck stuck in the mud returning from a dance in Tom. As the men approached the stuck car they were met by four men who were seeking revenge for Constable Rodgers diligent efforts in closing their liquor running operation. One of the men, Guy Dillahunty, put a gun in Constable Rodgers back and told him they were “going for a ride.” After walking a short distance Constable Rodgers drew his gun and was shot in the back as he turned to open fire on Dillahunty whom he shot twice. Dillahunty was taken away in a car by his friends. Constable Rodgers was able to give complete names of the men and details of the incident prior to being taken to the hospital. Constable Rodgers died of his wound at 11:05 P.M. the following Wednesday, January 2, 1935. Constable Rodgers was survived by his wife and seven children. All four of the men were arrested and convicted of his murder.

Andrew Roff, Posseman, Deputy U.S. Marshal

U.S. Marshals

Joe Henderson leased land in the Chickasaw Nation. On March 18, 1885, he found that two of his horses had been stolen and he believed he knew the thieves. He traveled to Ft. Smith, Arkansas to report the theft of the horses. Arrest warrants were issued for two brothers, Jim and Pink Lee. The warrant was turned over to James H. Guy, a sergeant with the U.S. Indian Police.

A murder warrant had also been issued for a black man named Dallas Humby and Guy had information that Humby might also be at the Lee ranch. Humby was accused of killing his wife and had avoided apprehension earlier. Guy was anxious to make the arrest.

On Friday, May 1, 1885, Guy gathered a posse of thirteen men, including brothers Jim and Andy Roff. The posse proceeded to and after dismounting, surrounded the Lee home. U.S. Marshal Guy called out for the Lee’s to come out of the house to answer warrants. Someone inside the house asked who it was and for them to come to the front of the house where they could talk. Guy walked to the front of the house and stood by a tree.

The posse was immediately met by gunfire coming from within the house. Guy was struck by two bullets and died during his fall to the ground. The posse members returned fire and a shootout ensued. Andy Roff was struck by five bullets and Jim Roff, once. As the gunfight increased, Bill Kirksey fell from shotgun fire. All died within minutes and the remainder of the posse grabbed their horses and retreated.

Not until September 7, 1885 when Heck Thomas, Jim Taylor and Jim Shattel were in the Gainesville, Texas area were the Lee brothers brought down. The Lee brothers were spotted trying to cut their way through a fence. The lawmen crept to within forty or fifty yards and called out to the Lees. Both Jim and Pink started firing at the posse with rifles. The lawmen returned fire until both Lee brothers were dead.

James Roff, Posseman, Deputy U.S. Marshal

U.S. Marshals

Hugh L. Rogers, Officer

Ada Police Department

About 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 4, 1926, Ada Police officers Hugh Rogers and Luther Prince were leaving a filling station across the street from the Stockton Hotel. As the officers left, hotel proprietor J.E. “Dick” Weems came out of the hotel and called them across the street. As the officers walked across the street Weems stepped back inside the hotel. When Rogers and Prince entered the hotel, Weems began berating them for raiding his hotel the previous night and then stepped inside his room. The two officers left but were notified by a lady resident that Weems was armed. The officers decided to return and arrest Weems.

As Rogers approached Weems’ room, he jumped out of the door and shoved a .38 pistol in Rogers’ chest. Officer Prince drew his gun and fired once at Weems missing him. Rogers then drew his Colt .45 and he and Weems began struggling and trading shots. Eight shots were fired, four of them hitting Weems and three hitting Rogers. Officer Rogers died at the scene and Weems died about two hours later.

Officer Hugh Rogers was survived by his wife and one child.

Isaac “Ike” Rogers, Deputy U.S. Marshal

U.S. Marshals

Hayden, Oklahoma was one of the distribution points for dispensing of federal money to the black freedmen in the area from the sale of the Cherokee Strip. This money meant for the former slaves or relatives of former slaves of the Cherokees in the region. Irk Rogers and a man named Clarence Goldsby both had a share of that money coming to them and their paths crossed. Clarence Goldsby had a hatred for Ike Rogers. Rogers tricked Crawford Golsby, Clarence’s brother, betrayed his trust, and arrested him for a reward on his head. Crawford Goldsby was very well known as outlaw “Cherokee Bill.” This arrest caused Cherokee Bill to be hanged on March 17, 1896. Clarence Goldsby told Ike Rogers if he ever saw him in Ft. Gibson he would kill him.

Rogers sent word to Goldsby that he would be on the morning train into Ft. Gibson. As Rogers got off the train in Ft. Gibson at 10 a.m. on Monday, April 19, 1897, he was shaking hands with a man on the platform when Clarence Goldsby fired a shot from behind him. The first shot missed Rogers and hit a bystander. The next three shots hit Rogers, two in the head and one in the body. Clarence escaped on foot amid a hail of gunfire from a rapidly assembled posse of citizens and deputy marshals. Goldsby was never apprehended.

Lawrence R. Rogers, Police Officer

Tulsa Police Department

On the night of Sunday, March 16, 1941, MK&T Railroad agent W.S. Wooten was pursuing two black men when they crashed their vehicle at Lansing and Independence Street. Wooten managed to arrest the two men with the help of two black Tulsa Police Officers. The officers asked Wooten if he needed further assistance to which he declined. Wooten did ask him if they would contact headquarters and ask a sergeant be sent. The officers called headquarters and then left to answer another call. Several Raiding Squad officers including L.R. “Shorty” Rogers were dispatched.

Witnesses stated they saw Wooten arguing with one of the suspects after the black officers left and before the Raiding Squad Officers arrived. The black suspect tried to walk away, and when Wooten tried to stop him, the suspect managed to get Wooten’s weapon. Finis Benningfield forced Wooten to get in the car and then shot him, emptying the weapon, and killing him.

When the Raiding Squad officers arrived, the driver pulled in front of Wooten’s car, Officer Rogers got out and approached the car from an angle that prevented him from seeing the dead agent’s body. Benningfield, seated in the car, shot Rogers once in the head as he approached, killing him almost instantly. Benningfield was immediately shot and killed by the other officers.

William Roland, City Marshal

City of Shidler

On Monday, March 28, 1927, William Roland, City Marshal of Shidler, was kidnapped, slugged and then thrown from an automobile by a party of supposed bandits. Roland died from his injuries.

Jeffery Dean Rominger, Officer,

Oklahoma City Police Department

About 3 A.M. on Thursday, August 31, 2000, Officer Rominger, 42, started pursuing a Pontiac Firebird on S. May Avenue near I-40. The Firebird turned east off of May on to the westbound exit ramp of I-40. Officer Rominger pursed the Firebird east in the westbound lanes of I-40. Near Pennsylvania Avenue the Firebird went around the left side of a semi-tractor truck and trailer which was west bound in the middle lane, clipped the front left corner of the truck and hit the patrol unit of Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Matthew Evans head-on. Trooper Evans, unaware of the pursuit, was west bound on I-40 in the inside lane starting to pass the semi-truck, responding to another Trooper’s call for assistance. Officer Rominger, close behind the Firebird, collided with the other two vehicles, which had burst into flames. Trooper Evans and the two people in the Firebird died at the scene. Officer Rominger died shortly after arriving at University Hospital. Officer Rominger was survived by his young son James.

Oswell Ovid “Joe” Rowden, Chief

Cushing Police Department

On July 30, 1968, Chief Rowden, 60, was transporting two unhand cuffed prisoners by car from Cushing to the Payne County Jail in Stillwater along with Payne County Deputy Sheriff Jerry Beall. Shortly after 3:00 P.M., approximately six miles east of Stillwater on Highway 51, one of the prisoners, Marvin R. Gibson, Jr., 19, attacked Deputy Beall, who was driving, wrenching the steering wheel sideways. The car crossed over the centerline hitting an oncoming car head-on. Both officers were killed. Beall was pinned by the steering wheel and Rowden was thrown through the windshield. Both prisoners received minor injuries but did not escape. Driver of the other car survived his injuries. A wife and two sons survived Chief Rowden. His son John had served as an Oklahoma City police officer and was an agent with the U. S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms in Atlanta, Georgia when his father was killed.

Bobby Rudisill, Police Officer

Ardmore Police Department

On Thursday, December 22, 1960, Ardmore officer Bobby Rudisill was shot and killed by burglars at the Sooner Foods Store at 1213 N. Washington in Ardmore. Shortly after midnight, a night watchman reported a burglary in progress after hearing noises and discovering that the telephone was not operating. Upon arriving at the store, the officers were directed to a power room and had to climb a flight of stairs to reach the wooden entrance door. Hearing what sounded like chiseling noises, the officers called out to the burglars to surrender. A barrage of shots came through the door hitting officer Rudisill. Rudisill was able to return fire shooting twice as he fell to the floor. His partner, Robert Neasbitt, emptied his revolver into the door. When backup officers arrived they found Arnold Jernigan dead inside the power room. Jernigan was a convicted burglar and bank robber from Fort Worth, Texas. Another man, John Milo Brown, had fled the scene but was arrested two hours later. Melvin Thomas Renfro and Horace Burt Mullins also fled the scene but turned themselves in two days later in Fort Worth, Texas. Renfro was sentenced to life in prison. Jernigan was returned to a prison in California on parole violations. Officer Bobby Rudisill was survived by his wife and 2 year old son.

James Hercules Rundell, City Marshal

Mulhall, City Of

Rundell, 32, had been City Marshal of Mulhall and township constable for three years when on Sunday evening, September 21, 1930, he stopped Paul Moring for speeding through Mulhall. When Rundell ordered Moring to turn his car around and return to town, Moring took off north on Highway 77 with Rundell in pursuit on his police motorcycle. The pursuit went 20 miles across Noble County to north of Perry before Moring’s car made contact with Rundell’s motorcycle causing the officer to crash, killing him. Moring was reportedly swaying left on the road to keep Rundell behind him when he tried to come along side the car. Moring did not stop when the accident occurred. He was arrested in Ponca City later that evening along with his mother and a friend who were with him when Rundell stopped him. Rundell was survived by his wife and three children

Running Eagle, Officer

Pawnee Tribal Police, O.T.

On Monday, June 29, 1891, two men were riding through the Pawnee Reservation in Oklahoma Territory when they saw a man sleeping in a location that appeared as though he was hiding. They rode into Pawnee and reported it to the authorities and Running Eagle was sent to investigate. Running Eagle found the man about 14 miles south of Pawnee. As he approached the man, the officer held out his hand to shake hands. The man grabbed the officer’s outstretched hand with his left hand, then drew a gun with his right hand and shot the officer fatally. The suspect escaped and was not identified.

Running Over Water, Officer

Ponca Tribal Police

On Sunday, October 18, 1908, the body of Ponca Tribal police officer Running Over Water was found on Salt Fork a mile and a half west of the White Eagle depot by local children. His body had two bullet wounds leading to the theory that this was indeed murder. John and Sophia Bull were arrested for the crime. Running Over Water was a popular citizen and officer.

Lee Russell, Deputy Sheriff

Adair County Sheriff’s Office

Late afternoon on Saturday, December 18, 1915, Deputy Sheriff Russell came across Bennie Taylor and Thornton Williams in the Ewing Chapel area of Adair County. The men were in possession of illegal liquor. When Russell indicated his intent to arrest them, Taylor shot the deputy with a shotgun. Russell shot Taylor five times with his Winchester rifle. Williams then pretended to surrender until he lured the deputy off his guard. Williams then drew an automatic pistol and shot the deputy five times. Williams then picked up the fallen Taylor’s shotgun and fled.

Deputy Russell, although mortally wounded with his right arm shattered, managed to walk to his home a short distance away. Bennie Taylor died at 10 p.m. that night and Deputy Russell died on the next morning, December 19, 1915. Thornton Williams was arrested a few days later hiding in a cave near Evansville, AR. He was returned to Adair County and charged with the deputy’s murder.

Ronald Dean Russell, Military Policeman

U.S. Army

Ronald Russell was born on December 2, 1954, in Dallas, Texas. In 1978, he was a Specialist Fourth Class in the U.S. Army, assigned as a dog handler with the 546^th Miliary Police Company at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. On Monday, July 3, 1978, Specialist Russell accompanied Oklahoma Highway Patrol Troopers Richard Oldaker and Ronald Alexander as an observer in an OHP Cessna 182 traffic spotter aircraft. The aircraft crashed in rural Harmon County, killing all three officers.

Sherman Russell, Deputy U.S. Marshal

U.S. Marshals

Sherman Russell worked under U.S. Marshal George Crump of the Western District of Arkansas in Ft. Smith. On Wednesday, July 12, 1893, Russell had gone after Sam Woodward on a warrant out of the federal court in Ft. Smith. Locating Woodward near Muskogee, Indian Territory, Russell had attempted the arrest, but was shot and killed by Woodward. A large posse was dispatched but was unable to locate Woodward. After a lengthy investigation, Willie Johnson, who was also known as Willie Overton, was arrested and charged with aiding and abetting Woodward in the killing of the deputy. He was sentenced by Judge Isaac Parker to hang after being found guilty. While awaiting his second appeal, he agreed to plead guilty for a sentence of life in prison. It is unknown if Woodward was ever captured or arrested.

William M. Russell, Sheriff

Kiamichi County, Choctaw Nation

On Friday, December 23, 1904, the Walter C. Jones Company was burglarized and over $1,100 worth of merchandise was stolen in Sherman, Texas. Telegraphs were sent to surrounding areas and a few hours later, the two suspects were arrested in Hugo, Oklahoma by City Marshal Tom Bryan. The next day, Christmas Eve, the suspects were being transported back to Texas on a train escorted by Kiamichi County Sheriff Russell and several other officers. When the train neared Mead, Oklahoma, one of the suspects pulled a gun and shot Sheriff Russell fatally. The suspects opened a window on the train, jumped from the train and escaped.

Claude E. Ryan, Night Officer

Okemah Police Department

About 9:30 P.M. on Saturday February 26, 1927, while making his rounds Officer Ryan apparently interrupted the burglary of a warehouse and was shot once through the heart. Although the shot was heard at the time Officer Ryan’s body was not discovered in an alley until shortly after midnight. $1,500 in cigarettes had been stolen from the burglarized warehouse. Five men were charged with Ryan’s murder a month later.