Jess Sosbee

Oklahoma City Police Dept. — Oklahoma City, OK

Felonious

End of Watch December 2, 1922

Age 34

The Vigil Panel 44 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 32

Incident

Officer Jess Sosbee and his partner were ambushed in the 400 block of East Grand Street by two men. Officer Sosbee suffered fatal gunshot wounds and died the next day. His partner suffered a gunshot wound but survived. Two men were arrested and charged with Officer Sosbee's murder. They stated that they ambushed the officers because they wanted to kill a police officer. Both were convicted of manslaughter. One of the subjects was sentenced to five years in prison and the 25-year-old killer was sentenced to eight years in prison. In 1935 the Jess Sosbee's killer beat his girl friend to death in Oklahoma City. A year later he was apprehended in Pasadena, California. He was returned to Oklahoma, convicted of murder, and sentenced to life. In 1939 he was stabbed to death by a fellow inmate.

Survivors

Officer Sosbee was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OK-8934045C
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.
Officer Sosbee served with the Oklahoma City Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Oklahoma City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Sosbee.

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

Agency

Department Oklahoma City Police Dept.

Location Oklahoma City, OK

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

Service Record

End of Watch December 2, 1922

Age 34

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Sentenced to 8 years

Officer Jess Sosbee 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 City Police Dept., 20 of 33 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.6% of this agency's fallen.

Oklahoma City Police Dept.

of 33 officers

60.6% Felonious

OK — Statewide

403

of 582 officers

69.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious