Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief of Police Irvin Gossett and Sheriff Waldo Williams, of the Stephens County Sheriff's Department, were shot and killed when they and several other officers attempted to stop a vehicle wanted for a robbery of a local service station.
When they stopped the vehicle, four brothers, ages 19 to 27, exited the vehicle and opened fire. Sheriff Williams was killed at the scene, and Chief Gossett succumbed to his wounds five months later.
One of the suspects was shot and killed at the scene, and two were shot and wounded, one critically. The fourth suspect was apprehended in Gunnison, Colorado, a few days later. It was discovered that during the past year, all four had robbed several banks in Oklahoma and Kansas.
The three brothers were convicted of Sheriff Williams' murder and sentenced to life. One died in prison in 1932. The one who was critically wounded was paroled soon afterwards because he was paralyzed for life. He was killed along with his parents in an automobile crash near Goodlet, Texas, in 1948. The last brother took part in a riot and prison break at the Oklahoma Penitentiary on May 13, 1936, in which Prison Guard Charles Powell was killed. He was paroled on May 3, 1949, only to be sent back ten months later for armed robbery.
Chief Gossett had served with the Duncan Police Department for 20 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OK-60692175- 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
20 years. You could have gone home.
Chief of Police Gossett gave the Duncan Police Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Duncan community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Gossett.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police Irvin Burgess Gossett 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 Duncan Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Irvin Burgess Gossett's cause is highlighted.
How Irvin Burgess Gossett Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Irvin Burgess Gossett is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Irvin Burgess Gossett was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Duncan Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
