Cornelius W. White
Agency patch
Detective

Cornelius W. White

Tulsa Police Department — Tulsa, OK
Felonious
End of Watch May 18, 1951
Age 53
Tour of Duty 15 yrs
The Vigil Panel 87 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective C.W. White was shot and killed while transporting a rape suspect to jail. The subject pulled out a concealed .32 caliber pistol and shot Detective White in the chest near the intersection of 1st Street and Elgin Street. The man fled on foot but was surrounded by officers on North Greenwood Avenue, and a shootout ensued. Two officers were wounded before the subject was shot and killed. Detective White had served with the Tulsa Police Department for 15 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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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.
Detective White gave the Tulsa Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Tulsa community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective White.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Tulsa, Osage County, OK
Platform Identity tpd.tulsa.ok.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 18, 1951
Tour of Duty 15 yrs
Age 53
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

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

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1951, 65 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 113th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Cornelius was 53. 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. Cornelius had served 15 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 handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Tulsa Police Department has 42 officers remembered here, Cornelius among them.

VI

Where

Detective Cornelius W. White

Tulsa Police Department · End of Watch May 18, 1951

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 45-W

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