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Incident
Chief of Police Ott Reed was one of four law enforcement officers killed in an incident referred to as the Kansas City Massacre at the Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri. Chief of Police Reed of the McAlester Police Department received a tip about the escapee's hiding place and, with federal agents, apprehended the escapee in Arkansas. Chief Reed and Agent Caffrey arrived at the train station and were met with additional agents and local law enforcement officers. At 7:17 a.m., as officers placed an escaped convict into a federal car to transport him to Leavenworth, two men stepped out from behind a parked car and fired at officers. During the barrage of gunfire, a car containing a few men also shot at officers with machine guns as they passed the parked cars. Chief Reed was slain while sitting in the back of the federal vehicle. Chief Reed had served as chief of police at the McAlester Police Department for 3 years and previously served as a deputy sheriff with the Pittsburg County Sheriff's Office. Survivors include his wife, son, and two daughters. On June 17, 1933, a group of men attempted to free inmate Frank Nash as he was being transported to Leavenworth. In the ensuing gun battle, Detective Frank Hermanson and Detective William Grooms, of the Kansas City Police Department, Chief of Police Otto Read, of the McAlester Police Department, Oklahoma, and Special Agent Raymond Caffrey, of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, were shot and killed. This ambush became known as the Kansas City Massacre. Please click here to read more about the Kansas City Massacre and the law enforcement officers killed.
Survivors
Survivors include his wife, son, and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
NW-5A08-N17J-Dearlier record number BO-US-OK-0259F495- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Chief of Police Reed gave the McAlester Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the McAlester community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Reed.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
McAlester Police Department has lost 7 officers; 1 of them killed feloniously.
Orrin is one of 403 officers killed feloniously in OK, 69.2% of the 582 remembered there.
Orrin is one of 15,741 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.2% of the 27,543 remembered there.
Orrin is one of 17,629 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 52% of the 33,910 remembered here.
33,910 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1933, 7 officers in OK were killed feloniously, the 14th heaviest of 114 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 15.
In 1933, 184 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 15th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1933, 186 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 18th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Orrin was 48. Of the 335 killed feloniously in OK whose age is recorded, half were between 34 and 49; the middle age was 42. Orrin had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
Orrin was 48. Of the 14,215 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Orrin had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Orrin was 48. Of the 15,849 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Orrin had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
June holds 11.4% of these deaths in OK, more than any other month. Saturdays: 16.1%.
June holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.
June holds 8.2% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Saturdays: 16.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 14.3% of all 7 deaths at McAlester Police Department, the 3rd most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 100% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 69.2% of all 582 deaths in OK, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 5.7% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.2% of all 27,543 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 5.9% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,910 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 5.3% of these deaths.
His people
McAlester Police Department has 7 officers remembered here, Orrin among them.
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 44-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from McAlester Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
