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Incident
Police Officer Claude Lynch was shot and killed as he and his partner were arresting a suspect for firing a gun in public.
While driving to the police station, the subject grabbed Police Officer Lynch's partner's gun. As his partner and the subject struggled, Officer Lynch exited the vehicle at Easton Street and Greenwood Avenue and attempted to disarm the subject. The subject fired three shots, striking Officer Lynch in the neck.
The suspect was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to four years in prison.
The Easton Street and Greenwood Avenue intersection does not exist today. The location is the Mabel B. Little Heritage House, a replica home and beauty shop which had been located on the corner of Greenwood Avenue and Easton Street.
In Our Keeping
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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
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Police Officer Lynch gave the Tulsa Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Tulsa community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Claude Silas Lynch served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Tulsa Police Department has lost 42 officers; 30 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 27,552 remembered there.
Claude 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 1948, 1 officer at Tulsa Police Department was killed feloniously, the 4th heaviest of 27 years on record. The heaviest was 1920, with 2.
In 1948, 2 officers in OK were killed feloniously, the 51st heaviest of 114 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 15.
In 1948, 80 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 84th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1948, 81 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 87th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Claude was 48. Of the 23 killed feloniously at Tulsa Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 30.5 and 45; the middle age was 37. Claude had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 10 years.
Claude was 48. Of the 335 killed feloniously in OK whose age is recorded, half were between 34 and 49; the middle age was 42. Claude had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
Claude was 48. 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. Claude had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Claude was 48. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Claude had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
November holds 10% of these deaths at Tulsa Police Department; April holds the most, 16.7%. Sundays: 23.3%.
November holds 8.2% of these deaths in OK; June holds the most, 11.4%. Sundays: 18.6%.
November holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.
November holds 8.2% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Sundays: 15.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 71.4% of all 42 deaths at Tulsa Police Department, the most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 69.2% of all 582 deaths in OK, the most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause.
His people
Tulsa Police Department has 42 officers remembered here, Claude among them.
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John Herrod Nov 9, 1917
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Glenn Allison
Feb 7, 1918
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W. C. Meacham
Jun 8, 1920
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Ed Yoakum Oct 27, 1920
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Harry H. Aurandt
Dec 20, 1921
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Robert Donnelly Feb 26, 1922
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Robert Jackson
Oct 31, 1927
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William Sydney Brooks
Dec 31, 1930
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James Wooley
Jan 23, 1931
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Henry C. Morrison Apr 23, 1933
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Lawrence B. Mitchell
Jul 22, 1934
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Walter N. Clark
Dec 10, 1936
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Edward W. Von Holten
Mar 24, 1937
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L. R. Rogers
Mar 16, 1941
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Walter C. Busch, Sr.
Oct 11, 1944
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Gerald M. St. Clair
Sep 2, 1946
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Sylvester Cormack
Sep 12, 1946
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Ben Johnston
Jan 3, 1947
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Ray Cowan
Feb 4, 1947
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Lawrence Inman
Mar 13, 1947
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Claude Silas Lynch
Nov 28, 1948
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James S. Peters
Apr 14, 1949
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Cornelius W. White
May 18, 1951
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Wallace Eugene Casey
May 12, 1957
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Nelson F. Williams
Jun 2, 1958
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Alan Yerton
Dec 24, 1959
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Thomas E. Milstead Nov 30, 1960
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Leroy E. Cowles
Sep 8, 1961
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Hubert Gerald Greer
Apr 27, 1962
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George Lee Brady
Apr 13, 1963
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Jerome Thurman Spybuck
Apr 3, 1971
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Glenn Truman Wortham
Jul 15, 1973
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Carl V. Kime, Jr.
Nov 5, 1979
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Don L. Byerley
Dec 15, 1980
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Fabrienne Margot Van Arsdell
Jul 25, 1981
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Kelley L. Smythe
Mar 26, 1982
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Chance Frederick Whiteman, III
Mar 26, 1982
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James Albert Slay
Nov 10, 1986
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Constantine George Spanos
Apr 23, 1993
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Dick Vernon Hobson, Jr.
Jun 11, 1996
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Craig Vincent Johnson
Jun 30, 2020
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Jerad Matthew Lindsey
Oct 28, 2020
Where
Military Service
Claude Silas Lynch served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Visit Claude Silas Lynch’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 12-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
41 officers from Tulsa Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
