Charles Stricker
Agency patch
Chief of Police

Charles Stricker

Commerce Police Department — Commerce, OK
Felonious
End of Watch October 22, 1919
Age 45
The Vigil Panel 38 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Chief Stricker was shot and killed while attempting to stop a car that resembled a stolen vehicle. When the chief stepped off of the curb to flag the car down, the driver sped up and drove towards the chief. Chief Stricker began firing at the tires of the vehicle. The driver of the car then fired out of his window, fatally wounding the chief.

The driver and his wife were apprehended, convicted of murder, and sentenced to 15 years. On May 27, 1922, the Oklahoma Criminal Court of Appeals reversed their convictions. The man was retried in February of 1923 but the trial resulted in a deadlocked jury.

Chief Stricker was survived by his wife and three children.

Survivors

Chief Stricker was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-OK-D6E788FA
Stewardship
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Chief of Police Stricker served with the Commerce Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Commerce community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Stricker.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Commerce, Ottawa County, OK
Platform Identity cpd.ottawa.ok.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 22, 1919
Age 45
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun

Chief of Police Charles Stricker is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 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 69.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Commerce Police Department, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.

Commerce Police Department
2
of 3 officers
66.7% Felonious
OK — Statewide
403
of 582 officers
69.2% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

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

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Charles Stricker Compares

Age at Death
45
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles Stricker is highlighted in Oct.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charles Stricker was killed by handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from Commerce Police Department are honored on badge.nw.