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Don L. Byerley
Agency patch
Sergeant

Don L. Byerley

Tulsa Police Department — Tulsa, OK
Felonious
United States flag Oklahoma flag
End of Watch December 15, 1980
Age 34
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
The Vigil Panel 123 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 41

Incident

Sergeant Don Byerley succumbed to injuries sustained two months earlier when his police car was rear-ended by a drunk driver on I-244 while he and his partner conducted a traffic stop.

The 34-year-old subject was convicted of first degree manslaughter and sentenced to six years.

Sergeant Byerley had served with the Tulsa Police Department for 11 years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-OK-57878FE8
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 Byerley gave the Tulsa Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Tulsa community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Byerley.

— 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 December 15, 1980
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
Age 34
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Automobile; Alcohol involved
Offender Sentenced to 6 years

Sergeant Don L. Byerley 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
30
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

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Don L. Byerley'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 Don L. Byerley Compares

Age at End of Watch
34
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
11
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to 6 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Don L. Byerley is highlighted in Dec.

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. Don L. Byerley was killed by automobile; alcohol involved.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518