Roll of Honor
Incident
Trooper John Barter was shot and killed after stopping a parolee at a disturbance call near Altus, Oklahoma. He asked the suspect about the gun the man had and was told it was for target practice. When Trooper Barter ordered the man to surrender the weapon, he was shot in the chest. The suspect was later arrested and subsequently executed in 1960. Trooper Barter was a United States Marine Corps veteran and had been with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol for six years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OK-F80CC956- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Trooper Barter gave the Oklahoma Highway Patrol 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Oklahoma, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
John Richard Barter served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Trooper John Richard Barter 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 Oklahoma Highway Patrol, 19 of 39 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 48.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Richard Barter's cause is highlighted.
How John Richard Barter Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1960
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Richard Barter is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Richard Barter was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
38 officers from Oklahoma Highway Patrol are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
