Roll of Honor
Henry Oats
Incident
Police Officer Henry Oats was shot and killed while transporting three prisoners to jail in Oklahoma. The man and two women, suspected members of the Poe/Hart Gang, had just been arrested after being located in a suspected stolen car. As Officer Oats drove the three to jail, with one suspect in the front seat, the suspect attempted to push Officer Oats out of the car and then shot Officer Oats in the stomach with a concealed weapon. The suspect, an escaped convict who was serving 25 years for bank robbery, then fled but was apprehended and sentenced to life in prison. He escaped again in 1926. It is believed he died in 1977 in the state of Ohio under an alias. Officer Oats had served in law enforcement with several different agencies for 17 years, including the Tupelo Police Department and Centrahoma Police Department in Oklahoma.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and step-daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-95CA8D5A- 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.
Police Officer Oats gave the United States Department of the Interior 17 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Oats.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Henry Oats 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 DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At United States Department of the Interior - Bureau of Indian Affairs - Office of Justice Services, 45 of 52 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 86.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Henry Oats's cause is highlighted.
How Henry Oats Compares
Offender Outcome
Not available
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Henry Oats is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Henry Oats was killed by handgun; .45 caliber.
Others Who Wore This Badge
51 officers from United States Department of the Interior - Bureau of Indian Affairs - Office of Justice Services are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
