Incident
Chief of Police John Jones was shot and killed by three prisoners as they escaped from the Oklahoma County Jail. The men had overpowered the jailer after pistols had been smuggled to them. Once outside the jail, the subjects attempted to commandeer a wagon. When Chief Jones arrived, gunfire was exchanged. Chief Jones was shot and killed along with one escapee. The other two men escaped and were never apprehended. One of the men who fled to Arizona was involved in the murder of Deputy Collector Frank Robson of the United States Customs Service on August 12th, 1896. The other two had murdered Deputy Sheriff Will Turner, of the Pottawattomie County Sheriff's Office on April 27th, 1895. It is believed that the same group was also involved in the killing of Deputy Sheriff Sam Farris of the Canadian County, Oklahoma, Sheriff's Office on May 23rd, 1894. Chief Jones had served as chief for 13 months.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and mother.
In Our Keeping
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
131 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Chief of Police Jones gave the Oklahoma City Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Oklahoma City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Oklahoma City Police Department has lost 33 officers; 20 of them killed feloniously.
John is one of 403 officers killed feloniously in OK, 69.2% of the 582 remembered there.
John is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
John is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1895, 1 officer at Oklahoma City Police Department was killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 18 years on record. The heaviest was 1933, with 3.
In 1895, 3 officers in OK were killed feloniously, the 38th heaviest of 114 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 15.
In 1895, 74 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 95th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1895, 77 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 95th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
John was 30. Of the 13 killed feloniously at Oklahoma City Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 44; the middle age was 34. John had served 1.1 years; the middle length of service was 3.7 years.
John was 30. Of the 335 killed feloniously in OK whose age is recorded, half were between 34 and 49; the middle age was 42. John had served 1.1 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
John was 30. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. John had served 1.1 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
John was 30. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. John had served 1.1 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
June holds 15% of these deaths at Oklahoma City Police Department; February holds the most, 15%. Sundays: 15%.
June holds 11.4% of these deaths in OK, more than any other month. Sundays: 18.6%.
June holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.
June holds 8.2% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Sundays: 15.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 60.6% of all 33 deaths at Oklahoma City Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 25% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 69.2% of all 582 deaths in OK, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 28% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.9% of these deaths.
His people
Oklahoma City Police Department has 33 officers remembered here, John among them.
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John Howard Jun 14, 1889
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John Milton Jones
Jun 30, 1895
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George W. Jackson Apr 12, 1898
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Morris R. Reagan
Feb 25, 1910
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William F. Byrd Aug 2, 1919
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Jess Sosbee
Dec 2, 1922
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Briggs Chumley
Nov 3, 1924
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Isaac D. Ashburn
Jul 20, 1928
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John D. Gates
Mar 23, 1930
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Charles York
Feb 8, 1933
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John Harold Beasley
May 22, 1933
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Douglas W. Gates
Dec 3, 1933
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Elmer Lee Sartor
Aug 20, 1934
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Ray S. Clark
May 23, 1936
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Frank Cissne
Apr 5, 1937
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Fred B. Counts
Aug 22, 1938
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Webb Loraine Campbell
Oct 29, 1938
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Reese F. Galyon, Jr.
Dec 22, 1951
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Benjamin F. Cravatt
Jul 16, 1954
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Eugene Henry Mills
Dec 11, 1954
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Ronald Lynn Haggard
Mar 21, 1963
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Mark H. Zelewski
Jul 27, 1964
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Michael J. Ratikan
Jun 14, 1971
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James Dewey Chamblin
Apr 15, 1974
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Terry Glen Lawson
Apr 21, 1977
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Gary Lee Ward
Feb 2, 1985
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Richard O. Riggs
Jan 7, 1986
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Delmar Warren Tooman
Sep 29, 1990
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Jeffrey Dean Rominger
Aug 31, 2000
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Jonathan Paul Dragus
Oct 20, 2005
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Robert Craig Douglas
Sep 28, 2008
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Kelley Allen Chase
Oct 13, 2012
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Meagan Burke
Sep 29, 2022
Where the Name Is Cut
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