Jess Dunn

Oklahoma Department of Corrections — Oklahoma City, OK

Felonious

End of Watch August 10, 1941

The Vigil Panel 78 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 18

Incident

Warden Jess Dunn was shot and killed when four men attempted to escape from the Oklahoma State Prison. The four suspects took Warden Dunn hostage, stole a prison employee's car, and attempted to escape but were intercepted by two Pittsburg County deputies and an ex-prison guard at a road block a short distance from the prison. A gun battle ensued and Warden Dunn, Deputy Sheriff William Ford, and three of the suspects were shot and killed. The fourth suspect was serving a life sentence for the murder of Night Watchman Elijah C. Smith of the Byars Police Department on June 27, 1937. He was convicted of Warden Dunn's murder and executed in the electric chair on July 14, 1943. One of the suspects who was killed was serving a life sentence for murdering Prison Guard Charles D. Powell at the same prison during a mass escape attempt on May 13, 1936.

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Permanent identifier: BO-US-OK-43ED0486
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.
Warden Dunn served with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.
Thank you for your service to the people of Oklahoma. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Warden Dunn.

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

Agency

Department Oklahoma Department of Corrections

Location Oklahoma City, OK

Platform Identity odcorr.oklahoma.ok.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 10, 1941

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Three shot and killed; One executed

Warden Jess Dunn 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 Oklahoma Department of Corrections, 14 of 19 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 73.7% of this agency's fallen.

Oklahoma Department of Corrections

of 19 officers

73.7% Felonious

OK — Statewide

403

of 582 officers

69.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious