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Incident
Police Officer Cal Palmer was shot and killed after he and his partner responded to a suspicious person call at the German Village on the corner of Grand Avenue and Broadway Avenue in Enid. The bar owner had been tipped off that his bar was going to be robbed and had been keeping watch on non-regular patrons. When the officers arrived, they asked a suspicious man to come with them. He asked to finish his beer first, and the officers let him. As he finished his beer, he slammed it on the table and at the same time lifted a gun next to him in the booth and started firing, instantly killing Officer Palmer and wounding the other officer. The suspect fled but was chased by other officers and killed in a shootout. Unbeknownst to Officer Palmer at the time, the suspect was an escapee from a mental hospital in Minnesota. A member of the Karpis-Barker gang, he had been responsible for the murder of three other law enforcement officers: Marshal John Rose, of the Kirksville, Missouri, Police Department, on November 17, 1930, and Patrolman Officer Ira Evans and Patrolman Leo Gorski, of the Minneapolis, Minnesota, Police Department, on December 16, 1932. Officer Palmer had served with the Enid Police Department for two years and was also Major County Deputy Sheriff. Survivors include his wife and two sons. He is buried in Memorial Park Cemetery, Enid, Oklahoma. The Barker-Karpis Gang committed violent crimes throughout the American Midwest in the late 1920s and mid-1930s. Members and associates of the gang were responsible for the murders of more than ten law enforcement officers. Please click here to view all the law enforcement officers killed by the Barker-Karpis Gang.
Survivors
Survivors include his wife and two sons.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- 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.
Police Officer Palmer gave the Enid Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Enid community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Palmer.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Enid Police Department has lost 4 officers; 3 of them killed feloniously.
Cal is one of 403 officers killed feloniously in OK, 69.2% of the 582 remembered there.
Cal is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Cal is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 52% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1936, 5 officers in OK were killed feloniously, the 26th heaviest of 114 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 15.
In 1936, 136 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 31st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1936, 136 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 38th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Cal was 38. Of the 335 killed feloniously in OK whose age is recorded, half were between 34 and 49; the middle age was 42. Cal had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
Cal was 38. 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. Cal had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Cal was 38. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Cal had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
July holds 10.4% of these deaths in OK; June holds the most, 11.4%. Wednesdays: 13.2%.
July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.
July holds 9% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Wednesdays: 13.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 75% of all 4 deaths at Enid Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 66.7% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 69.2% of all 582 deaths in OK, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 28% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.9% of these deaths.
His people
Enid Police Department has 4 officers remembered here, Cal among them.
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 46-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Enid Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
