Roll of Honor
Incident
City Marshal Zeke Putnam was shot and killed while standing inside of a store. Someone standing outside of the store fired a shotgun through a window, striking Marshal Putnam in the neck. Two suspects were apprehended in connection with Marshal Putnam's murder.
While the two were in jail a lynch mob broke into the jail to lynch them. Ironically, the mob lynched four other prisoners but not the two arrested for Marshal Putnam's murder. One of the four that was lynched was in jail for the murder of Officer Ben Collins, of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, on August 1, 1906.
Marshal Putnan's killer was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. His sentence was later commuted to life. In 1923 his sentence was commuted to 22 years. The other suspect was tried and acquitted.
Marshal Putnam was survived by his wife and five children.
Survivors
Marshal Putnam was survived by his wife and five children.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-OK-51D5E0C2- Stewardship
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- 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.
City Marshal Putnam served with the Allen Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Allen community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, City Marshal Putnam.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
City Marshal E. M. "Zeke" Putnam 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. E. M. "Zeke" Putnam's cause is highlighted.
How E. M. "Zeke" Putnam Compares
Offender Outcome
Two suspects apprehended
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. E. M. "Zeke" Putnam is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. E. M. "Zeke" Putnam was killed by shotgun.