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Incident
Trooper Joseph Nicolle was killed on his 39th birthday when his helicopter clipped a power line and crashed. He was en route to assist sheriff's deputies eradicate a marijuana crop. Trooper Nicolle had served with the agency for eight years and had previously served with the United States Army.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two sons, two daughters, parents, two brothers and a sister.
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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. Joseph is one person.
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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.
Trooper Nicolle gave the Oklahoma Highway Patrol 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Oklahoma, and 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
Joseph Earl Nicolle served in the U.S. Army (1971â1972) before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Accident
Oklahoma Highway Patrol has lost 39 officers; 17 of them lost to accidents.
Joseph is one of 135 officers lost to accidents in OK, 23.2% of the 582 remembered there.
Joseph is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Joseph is one of 10,096 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1990, 3 officers at Oklahoma Highway Patrol were lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1990, 3 officers in OK were lost to accidents, the 4th heaviest of 78 years on record. The heaviest was 1980, with 4.
In 1990, 66 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 64th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1990, 87 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 43rd heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Joseph was 38. Of the 16 lost to accidents at Oklahoma Highway Patrol whose age is recorded, half were between 29.8 and 38.5; the middle age was 34.5. Joseph had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 8 years.
Joseph was 38. Of the 118 lost to accidents in OK whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 48.8; the middle age was 38. Joseph had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Joseph was 38. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Joseph had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Joseph was 38. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Joseph had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
July holds 23.5% of these deaths at Oklahoma Highway Patrol, more than any other month. Thursdays: 29.4%.
July holds 11.1% of these deaths in OK; March holds the most, 12.6%. Thursdays: 21.5%.
July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
July holds 8.9% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Thursdays: 14.2%.
How
Accident deaths account for 43.6% of all 39 deaths at Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 23.2% of all 582 deaths in OK, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Oklahoma Highway Patrol has 39 officers remembered here, Joseph among them.
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Sam R. Henderson
May 7, 1941
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James A. Long
Jul 12, 1942
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Theo Cobb
Jun 24, 1951
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Johnnie Whittle
Sep 14, 1953
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John Richard Barter
Jan 29, 1959
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Howard M. Crumley
Jun 28, 1970
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Larry Bruce Smith
Jan 29, 1971
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William James Walker
Feb 17, 1971
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Robert Eugene Ake
Sep 18, 1972
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Thomas F. Isbell
Dec 21, 1972
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J. C. Magar
Jun 29, 1975
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Larry Verne Crabtree
Apr 4, 1977
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Cell C. Howell
Apr 27, 1977
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James Pat Grimes
May 26, 1978
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Billy G. Young
May 26, 1978
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Houston F. Summers
May 26, 1978
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Rondal Ray Alexander
Jul 3, 1978
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Richard Dean Oldaker
Jul 3, 1978
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Kenny Lee Osborn
Jul 13, 1978
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Kenneth Dean Strang
Mar 1, 1980
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Edward A. Elliott
Aug 22, 1980
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Travis Leon Bench
Oct 5, 1983
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Guy David Nalley
Oct 27, 1984
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James A. Hayes
Jul 10, 1988
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Randy Joe Littlefield
Jan 15, 1990
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Duane Lee Grundy
Apr 11, 1990
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Joseph Earl Nicolle
Jul 26, 1990
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David Warner Eales
Sep 24, 1999
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Matthew Scott Evans
Aug 31, 2000
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Christopher Michael Van Krevelen
Nov 28, 2002
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Nikky Joe Green
Dec 26, 2003
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Steven Roy Smith
Feb 9, 2006
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William Lloyd McClendon
Oct 1, 2006
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George C. Green, Jr.
Oct 26, 2010
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Nicholas Glenn Dees
Jan 31, 2015
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Donald Heath Meyer
Jul 24, 2017
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Daniel Boyd Martin
Apr 23, 2018
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Jeffery Wade Sewell
Sep 26, 2020
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Vernon Brake
Apr 8, 2026
Military Service
Joseph Earl Nicolle served in the U.S. Army (1971–1972) before joining law enforcement.
Visit Joseph Earl Nicolle’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 44-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
38 officers from Oklahoma Highway Patrol are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
