Homer Teaff

Muskogee County Sheriff's Office — Muskogee, OK

Felonious

End of Watch June 27, 1922

The Vigil Panel 43 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 6

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Homer Teaff was shot and killed while he and another deputy arrested a man on a larceny warrant. As Deputy Teaff handcuffed the man, the man grabbed the deputy's service weapon and shot him twice.

The suspect and his wife buried Deputy Teaff on a nearby swamp. They surrendered to officers one week later on Brushey Mountain. Both were charged with murder. The man was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life. His wife was acquitted. In 1925 the man, who was 62, was granted a new trial. He was again convicted of murder but only sentenced to four years with credit for the time he had served. The judge took into consideration that the man was in very poor health with not long to live.

Deputy Teaff was survived by his wife, child, and two brothers. Both brothers served with the Springfield, Missouri, Police Departmetn.

Survivors

Deputy Teaff was survived by his wife, child, and two brothers.

In Our Keeping

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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.
Deputy Sheriff Teaff served with the Muskogee County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Muskogee community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Teaff.

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

Agency

Department Muskogee County Sheriff's Office

Location Muskogee, OK

Platform Identity mcso.muskogee.ok.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 27, 1922

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Sentenced to life

Deputy Sheriff Homer Teaff 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 Muskogee County Sheriff's Office, 7 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Muskogee County Sheriff's Office

of 7 officers

100% Felonious

OK — Statewide

403

of 582 officers

69.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious