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Incident
Corporal Stephen Jenkins suffered a fatal heart attack shortly after chasing an inmate across the prison yard at the Clara Waters Community Corrections Center, in Oklahoma City.
The inmate was observed picking up a bag of contraband tobacco along the inner fence line at the prison. The inmate ran from Corporal Jenkins and three other officers when they attempted to take him inside for a disciplinary action. All four officers chased him across the prison yard before subduing him. Corporal Jenkins suddenly collapsed as they walked into the prison.
Corporal Jenkins was transported to a nearby hospital where he passed away.
The inmate was charged with first degree manslaughter as a result of Corporal Jenkins' death.
Corporal Jenkins had served with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections for 18 months.
Survivors
He is survived by his four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- 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
You barely got started.
Corporal Jenkins gave the Oklahoma Department of Corrections 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the people of Oklahoma. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Corporal Jenkins.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Cardiac
Oklahoma Department of Corrections has lost 19 officers; 3 of them lost to cardiac events.
Stephen is one of 21 officers lost to cardiac events in OK, 3.6% of the 582 remembered there.
Stephen is one of 1,307 officers lost to cardiac events in the United States, 4.7% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Stephen is one of 1,309 officers lost to cardiac events worldwide, 3.8% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2017, 1 officer in OK was lost to cardiac events, the 2nd heaviest of 20 years on record. The heaviest was 1989, with 2.
In 2017, 22 officers in the United States were lost to cardiac events, the 3rd heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.
In 2017, 22 officers worldwide were lost to cardiac events, the 3rd heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.
Who
Stephen was 42. Of the 19 lost to cardiac events in OK whose age is recorded, half were between 42.5 and 54.5; the middle age was 47. Stephen had served 1.5 years; the middle length of service was 11 years.
Stephen was 42. Of the 1,249 lost to cardiac events in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 43 and 55; the middle age was 48. Stephen had served 1.5 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.
Stephen was 42. Of the 1,251 lost to cardiac events worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 42.5 and 55; the middle age was 48. Stephen had served 1.5 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.
When
January holds 19% of these deaths in OK, more than any other month. Saturdays: 28.6%.
January holds 9.6% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Saturdays: 14.3%.
January holds 9.5% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Saturdays: 14.4%.
How
Cardiac deaths account for 15.8% of all 19 deaths at Oklahoma Department of Corrections, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 66.7% of these deaths.
Cardiac deaths account for 3.6% of all 582 deaths in OK, the 3rd most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 23.8% of these deaths.
Cardiac deaths account for 4.7% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 4th most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 16.1% of these deaths.
Cardiac deaths account for 3.8% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 4th most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 16% of these deaths.
His people
Oklahoma Department of Corrections has 19 officers remembered here, Stephen among them.
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Herman H. Drover
Jan 19, 1914
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Fred C. Godfrey
Jan 19, 1914
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D. C. Oates
Jan 19, 1914
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William Robert Mayfield Jan 20, 1926
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James Payton Jones Feb 17, 1935
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William C. Turner Jul 18, 1935
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Charles D. Powell May 13, 1936
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Jess Dunn
Aug 10, 1941
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W. H. Riley Dec 13, 1943
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W. H. Aston Aug 4, 1948
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Albert Jerald Cox
Mar 5, 1977
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Raymond L. Chandler Dec 18, 1980
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Rex Thompson
Sep 1, 1981
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Eugene L. Young
Jul 28, 1989
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Kenneth Denton
Aug 3, 1989
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Joe Allen Gamble
Jun 6, 2000
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Jeffery Matthew McCoy
May 18, 2012
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Stephen Roshawn Jenkins, Sr.
Jan 7, 2017
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Robert William Sumner
Jul 14, 2024
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
18 officers from Oklahoma Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
