Roll of Honor

Prev Next

Assistant Chief of Police

Silas W. Cope

Wewoka Police Department — Wewoka, OK

Felonious

End of Watch January 29, 1928

Age 60

The Vigil Panel 54 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Assistant Chief of Police Silas Cope was shot and killed in Saint Louis, Oklahoma, while he and a Seminole County deputy were returning to Wewoka after taking a mental patient to the state hospital in Norman. The two officers had stopped at a restaurant in Saint Louis to eat dinner. As they left the restaurant after eating they were ambushed by a bootlegger. Assistant Chief Cope was mortally wounded and died at a local hospital 90 minutes later. The deputy returned fire but did not strike the suspect. The man was arrested and sentenced to 30 years in prison. He was paroled on May 6, 1938.

Survivors

Assistant Chief Cope was survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OK-48A3D16B
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 Silas. 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.
Assistant Chief of Police Cope served with the Wewoka Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Wewoka community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Assistant Chief of Police Cope.

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

Agency

Department Wewoka Police Department

Location Wewoka, OK

Platform Identity wpd.seminole.ok.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 29, 1928

Age 60

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Paroled in 1938

Assistant Chief of Police Silas W. Cope 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 Wewoka Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Wewoka Police Department

of 2 officers

100% Felonious

OK — Statewide

403

of 582 officers

69.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Silas W. Cope's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Silas W. Cope Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Paroled in 1938

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Silas W. Cope is highlighted in Jan.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Silas W. Cope was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Wewoka Police Department are honored on badge.nw.