Roll of Honor
Incident
Assistant Chief of Police Silas Cope was shot and killed in Saint Louis, Oklahoma, while he and a Seminole County deputy were returning to Wewoka after taking a mental patient to the state hospital in Norman. The two officers had stopped at a restaurant in Saint Louis to eat dinner. As they left the restaurant after eating they were ambushed by a bootlegger. Assistant Chief Cope was mortally wounded and died at a local hospital 90 minutes later. The deputy returned fire but did not strike the suspect. The man was arrested and sentenced to 30 years in prison. He was paroled on May 6, 1938.
Survivors
Assistant Chief Cope was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OK-48A3D16B- Stewardship
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- 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.
Assistant Chief of Police Cope served with the Wewoka Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Wewoka community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Assistant Chief of Police Cope.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Assistant Chief of Police Silas W. Cope 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 Wewoka 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. Silas W. Cope's cause is highlighted.
How Silas W. Cope Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Silas W. Cope is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Silas W. Cope was killed by gun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Wewoka Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
