Charles Stricker
Agency patch
Chief of Police

Charles Stricker

Commerce Police Department — Commerce, OK
Felonious
End of Watch October 22, 1919
Age 45
The Vigil Panel 38 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Chief Stricker was shot and killed while attempting to stop a car that resembled a stolen vehicle. When the chief stepped off of the curb to flag the car down, the driver sped up and drove towards the chief. Chief Stricker began firing at the tires of the vehicle. The driver of the car then fired out of his window, fatally wounding the chief.

The driver and his wife were apprehended, convicted of murder, and sentenced to 15 years. On May 27, 1922, the Oklahoma Criminal Court of Appeals reversed their convictions. The man was retried in February of 1923 but the trial resulted in a deadlocked jury.

Chief Stricker was survived by his wife and three children.

Survivors

Chief Stricker was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-OK-D6E788FA
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.
Chief of Police Stricker served with the Commerce Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Commerce community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Stricker.

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

Agency

Location Commerce, OK
Platform Identity cpd.ottawa.ok.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 22, 1919
Age 45
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun

Chief of Police Charles Stricker 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 Commerce Police Department, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.

Commerce Police Department
2
of 3 officers
66.7% 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. Charles Stricker'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 Charles Stricker Compares

Age at End of Watch
45
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles Stricker is highlighted in Oct.

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. Charles Stricker was killed by handgun.

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

2 officers from Commerce Police Department are honored on badge.nw.