Thomas E. Milstead

Tulsa Police Department — Tulsa, OK

Felonious

End of Watch November 30, 1960

Age 64

The Vigil Panel 96 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 41

Incident

Officer Milstead, a clerk for the city animal shelter, was shot and critically wounded by a man following a dispute over a dog. The man left the shelter but returned and shot Officer Milstead. Officer Milstead died from his wounds almost six months later. The 23 year-old suspect was found to be insane and committed in a mental institution. He was released in 1963. In 1999 he and his wife were convicted of the first degree murder of their 2-year-old son and sentenced to life. In 2004 the Oklahoma Court of Appeals reversed his conviction. The state decided not to retry him and released him from prison. His wife's conviction was upheld.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OK-270875AA
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.
Officer Milstead served with the Tulsa Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Tulsa community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Milstead.

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

Agency

Department Tulsa Police Department

Location Tulsa, OK

Platform Identity tpd.tulsa.ok.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 30, 1960

Age 64

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Committed

Officer Thomas E. Milstead 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 Tulsa Police Department, 30 of 42 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 71.4% of this agency's fallen.

Tulsa Police Department

of 42 officers

71.4% Felonious

OK — Statewide

403

of 582 officers

69.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious