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Incident
Officer Claude Ryan was shot and killed when he interrupted a burglary in progress at a local warehouse at approximately 9:30 pm.
A local auto dealer manager saw Officer Ryan pass by and then heard a gunshot in an alley a few minutes later. Officer Ryan's body was found in the alley with a gunshot wound to the chest. The warehouse next to where Officer Ryan was found had been burglarized.
Four suspects were eventually apprehended. Three were convicted of murder and sentenced to life. The fourth suspect was acquitted but held for authorities in Texas, Illinois, Montana, and Kansas for armed robberies and other crimes he committed. One who was sentenced, an associate of Pretty Boy Floyd, was released in 1933 because he had tuberculosis. Days later he robbed a bank in Topeka, Kansas, and then was shot when he and another man tried to kidnap a farmer. He lost his arm as a result of the shooting and was returned to the Oklahoma Penitentiary. In 1946 he was released again but soon returned after he burglarized a business in Dodge City, Kansas. In 1961, at age 61, he was released for the third time but arrested in 1968 by FBI agents for robbing a bank in Alvord,Texas, six months earlier. After serving a sentence in Texas he was killed in 1983 in a traffic accident in Tulsa. Another who was sentenced, the suspect who shot Officer Ryan, was an escapee from the Kansas Penitentiary.
Officer Ryan had served with the Okemah Police Department for four years.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- September 9, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Ryan gave the Okemah Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Okemah community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Ryan.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Okemah Police Department has lost 2 officers; 2 of them killed feloniously.
Claude is one of 403 officers killed feloniously in OK, 69.2% of the 582 remembered there.
Claude is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Claude is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 52% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1927, 11 officers in OK were killed feloniously, the 5th heaviest of 114 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 15.
In 1927, 220 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 6th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1927, 222 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 9th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Claude had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
Claude had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Claude had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
February holds 7.7% of these deaths in OK; June holds the most, 11.4%. Saturdays: 16.1%.
February holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.
February holds 7.4% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Saturdays: 16.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 100% of all 2 deaths at Okemah Police Department. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 50% 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 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.9% of these deaths.
His people
Okemah Police Department has 2 officers remembered here, Claude among them.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 19-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Okemah Police Department are honored on badge.nw.