Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief Pleasant Clay Oakes was shot and killed by a man who held a grudge against him. The suspect was angry with the chief for arresting him a few days earlier for public drunkenness.
The suspect was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 20 years in prison. In December of 1914, he escaped from the Caledonia Prison Farm in Halifax County. He went to Sylacauga, Alabama, where under an assumed name he became very prosperous in a lumber business. In November of 1928, he was recaptured in Sylacauga after someone recognized him and reported it to the police. He was returned to North Carolina and ordered to serve the remainder of his sentence.
Thank you for honoring my great grandfather.
Ellen Cecil King Great granddaughter October 29th, 2021
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-NC-C89130AF- 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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Chief of Police Oakes served with the Raeford Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Raeford community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Oakes.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police Pleasant Clay Oakes 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 NC, 385 of 664 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58% of this state's fallen. That is 58 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Raeford Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Pleasant Clay Oakes's cause is highlighted.
How Pleasant Clay Oakes Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Pleasant Clay Oakes is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Pleasant Clay Oakes was killed by shotgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Raeford Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
