Charles Thomas Reed
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Charles Thomas Reed

Felonious
End of Watch December 27, 1922
Age 36
Tour of Duty 15 yrs
The Vigil Panel 44 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Charles Reed was shot and killed seven miles south of Okemah as he attempted to arrest a man who had threatened to kill several Indian youths.

The man had been looking for his estranged wife and other family members but could not find them. He encountered the youths and asked if they knew where the women were. When the youths responded that they didn't know the man brandished a handgun and threatened to kill them.

The boys drove to Deputy Reed's home and told of him the incident. Deputy Reed then picked up another deputy and then drove to the area where they located the man sitting in his car. As they approached him the man opened fire, mortally wounding Deputy Reed. Both Deputy Reed and the other deputy returned fire as the man fled on foot from the vehicle. The man was shot several times and killed.

Deputy Reed had served with the Okfuskee County Sheriff's Office for at least 15 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-OK-AD1C60DE
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
April 2, 2026
Last updated
July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Reed gave the Okfuskee County Sheriff's Office 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Okemah community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Reed.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Location Okemah, OK
Platform Identity ocso.okfuskee.ok.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 27, 1922
Tour of Duty 15 yrs
Age 36
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Deputy Sheriff Charles Thomas Reed is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In OK, 403 of 582 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.2% of this state's fallen. That is 15 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Okfuskee County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.

Okfuskee County Sheriff's Office
3
of 5 officers
60% Felonious
OK — Statewide
403
of 582 officers
69.2% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles Thomas Reed's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Charles Thomas Reed Compares

Age at End of Watch
36
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
15
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles Thomas Reed is highlighted in Dec.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location