W. C. Meacham

Tulsa Police Department — Tulsa, OK

Felonious

End of Watch June 8, 1920

Age 37

The Vigil Panel 39 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 41

Incident

Detective Meacham was shot and killed while attempting to arrest an armed robbery suspect. Detective Meacham was advised by one of his informants of the location of fugitive George H Smith. Detective Meacham located Smith at approximately 7 P.M. in downtown Tulsa and arrested him. He then searched Smith and removed a gun, and went to a call box with his prisoner. While calling in for transportation, Smith shot the Detective three times with a second gun that the Detective missed in his search. Smith escaped and Detective Meacham died a week later on Tuesday, June 8th. The suspect was later shot and killed during a shootout in Kansas City, Missouri. Detective Meacham had turned in his resignation with the Tulsa Police Department at noon the day he was shot to become the City Marshal of Bigheart.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, three sons, and three daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OK-2BD1C79B
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew W.. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Meacham served with the Tulsa Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Tulsa community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Meacham.

— 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 June 8, 1920

Age 37

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Shot and killed

Detective W. C. Meacham 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