J. A. "Doc" Hands

Sapulpa Police Department — Sapulpa, OK

Felonious

End of Watch March 3, 1918

Age 50

The Vigil Panel 33 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 5

Incident

Sergeant Doc Hands succumbed to an injury sustained the previous day when he was struck in the head while walking into the police station.

The former acting police chief had engaged Sergeant Hands in an argument in front of the station. The former chief held a grudge against Sergeant Hands as the result of testimony the sergeant made that contributed to the chief's dismissal from the force.

As Sergeant Hands walked back into the police station the former chief struck him in the head, causing him to fall to the floor. The chief then kicked him in the head. Sergeant Hands suffered a fractured skull as a result of the attack and died the following morning.

Sergeant Hands was survived by his wife and two children.

Survivors

Sergeant Hands was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OK-2B805ACE
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.
Sergeant Hands served with the Sapulpa Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Sapulpa community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Hands.

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

Agency

Department Sapulpa Police Department

Location Sapulpa, OK

Platform Identity spd.creek.ok.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 3, 1918

Age 50

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Assault

Weapon Person

Sergeant J. A. "Doc" Hands 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 Sapulpa Police Department, 5 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 83.3% of this agency's fallen.

Sapulpa Police Department

of 6 officers

83.3% Felonious

OK — Statewide

403

of 582 officers

69.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious