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James Pat Grimes
Agency patch
Second Lieutenant

James Pat Grimes

Oklahoma Highway Patrol — Oklahoma City, OK
Felonious
United States flag Oklahoma flag
End of Watch May 26, 1978
Age 37
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
Badge 88
The Vigil Panel 120 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 38

Incident

Lieutenant Pat Grimes, Trooper Houston Summers, and Trooper Billy Young were shot and killed while attempting to apprehend two escapees who were wanted for seven murders since their escape. Trooper Summers and Trooper Young were shot and killed while on a roving patrol of a county road when they came across the suspects in a recently stolen truck. Both troopers were killed in the ensuing gun battle. Lieutenant Grimes and his partner were being directed into the area by aircraft when they too were ambushed. Lieutenant Grimes was killed in the ensuing gun battle, and his partner was wounded. Both suspects were eventually shot and killed by other officers at the scene. Lieutenant Grimes had served with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol for 12 years. He was survived by his wife and 3-year-old daughter. He is buried in Memorial Park Cemetary, Enid, Garfield County, Oklahoma.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and 3-year-old daughter.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Second Lieutenant Grimes gave the Oklahoma Highway Patrol 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Oklahoma. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Second Lieutenant Grimes.

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

Agency

Department Oklahoma Highway Patrol
Type Highway Patrol
Location Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, OK
Platform Identity ohp.ok.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 26, 1978
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
Age 37
Badge Number 88
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

James is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  3. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1978, 121 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 43rd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

James was 37. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. James had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

May holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Oklahoma Highway Patrol has 39 officers remembered here, James among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Second Lieutenant James Pat Grimes

Oklahoma Highway Patrol · End of Watch May 26, 1978

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 46-W

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