Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Frank Edwards and Deputy Sheriff Webster Reece, of the Muskogee County Sheriff's Office, were shot and killed at a roadblock 20 miles south of Tahlequah at approximately 4:00 am.
The roadblock had been setup to stop three men wanted for murder. When the vehicle stopped at the roadblock a shootout ensued and both officers were struck. Deputy Reece was killed instantly and Officer Edwards was mortally wounded. Officer Edwards contracted pneumonia and succumbed to the wounds on October 25, 1932.
During the shootout one suspect was killed and the other two escaped. The next day they shot it out with a posse of more than 20 officers and men. Deputy Sheriff J. Hurt Flippin of the Rogers County Sheriff's Office, and Special Deputy Andrew McGinnis of the Muskogee County Sheriff's Office, were shot and killed. Both suspects were also shot and killed.
Officer Edwards had served with the agency for Tahlequah Police Department for four years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and child.
In Our Keeping
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- 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 Edwards gave the Tahlequah Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Tahlequah community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Edwards.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer Frank Edwards 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Frank Edwards's cause is highlighted.
How Frank Edwards Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Frank Edwards is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Frank Edwards was killed by handgun.