Roll of Honor
Incident
Assistant Chief John Oaks was struck and killed by a vehicle while investigating a single-vehicle crash at the intersection of Crawford Road and Opelika Road.
He was standing next to the wrecked car when an approaching vehicle lost control and struck him, crushing him between the two vehicles. The driver of the vehicle that struck him was arrested and charged with murder.
Assistant Chief Oaks had served with the Phenix City Police Department and Girard Police Department for 10 years and was scheduled to retire three months later.
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." Matthew 5:9
Chris Di Gerolamo Federal Air Marshal Service March 18th, 2022
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-042A431F- 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.
Assistant Chief Oaks gave the Phenix City Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Phenix City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Assistant Chief Oaks.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Assistant Chief John T. Oaks is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In AL, 182 of 643 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 28.3% of this state's fallen. That is 2.7 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Phenix City Police Dept., 3 of 4 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John T. Oaks's cause is highlighted.
How John T. Oaks Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. John T. Oaks is highlighted in Jul.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Phenix City Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
