Osie R. Gourd
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Osie R. Gourd

Felonious
End of Watch May 12, 1938
Age 54
Tour of Duty 10 yrs
The Vigil Panel 74 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Osie Gourd was shot and killed while attempting to arrest two robbery suspects. The suspects were wanted for robbing a service station ten days earlier. Deputy Gourd received information about the men's whereabouts, and he and two other deputies went to arrest them. As the deputies entered a tavern at State Highway 10 and Ben George Road, one of the suspects opened fire, striking Deputy Gourd in the abdomen. Deputy Gourd and the other deputies returned fire, striking the suspect a total of seven times with a rifle and shotgun. The suspect died at the scene. Deputy Gourd had served with the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office for ten years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and five children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-OK-8E562967
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.
Deputy Sheriff Gourd gave the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Tahlequah community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Gourd.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Location Tahlequah, OK
Platform Identity ccso.cherokee.ok.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 12, 1938
Tour of Duty 10 yrs
Age 54
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Shot and killed

Deputy Sheriff Osie R. Gourd 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 Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office
3
of 3 officers
100% Felonious
OK — Statewide
403
of 582 officers
69.2% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Osie R. Gourd's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Osie R. Gourd Compares

Age at End of Watch
54
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
10
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Osie R. Gourd is highlighted in May.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Osie R. Gourd was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from Cherokee County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.