Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Dewitt Cooley was killed while checking the locks on the cells in the jail. One of the prisoners had managed to pry open his cell door with a crowbar and struck Deputy Cooley from behind. Deputy Cooley lay unconscious for several hours until his wife came to the jail and found him. She was also attacked by the three escaping prisoners and was critically wounded but recovered after several weeks in a hospital.
The prisoner who dealt the death blow was convicted of Deputy Cooley's murder and sentenced to life. On January 17, 1918, he escaped from Granite Penitentiary and was never seen again.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OK-DA76181A- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Dewitt. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Cooley gave the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Tulsa community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Cooley.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Dewitt Clinton Cooley 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 Tulsa County Sheriff's Office, 8 of 11 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Dewitt Clinton Cooley's cause is highlighted.
How Dewitt Clinton Cooley Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Dewitt Clinton Cooley is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Others Who Wore This Badge
10 officers from Tulsa County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
