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Incident
Sergeant Terry Lawson was accidentally shot during a training exercise. He and other veteran officers were training rookie officers in felony traffic stops. All weapons were loaded with blank cartridges. Sergeant Lawson was shot at point black range with one of the blank cartridges. He was transported to a local hospital where he died a short time later. Sergeant Lawson had been with the Oklahoma City Police Department for 13 years.
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- August 2, 2026
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- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sergeant Lawson gave the Oklahoma City Police Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Oklahoma City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Lawson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Oklahoma City Police Department has lost 33 officers; 13 of them lost to accidents.
Terry is one of 135 officers lost to accidents in OK, 23.2% of the 582 remembered there.
Terry is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Terry is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1977, 1 officer at Oklahoma City Police Department was lost to accidents, the 2nd heaviest of 12 years on record. The heaviest was 1938, with 2.
In 1977, 1 officer in OK was lost to accidents, the 39th heaviest of 78 years on record. The heaviest was 1980, with 4.
In 1977, 64 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 66th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1977, 88 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 41st heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Terry was 38. Of the 10 lost to accidents at Oklahoma City Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 32.5 and 41; the middle age was 36.5. Terry had served 13 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
Terry was 38. Of the 118 lost to accidents in OK whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 48.8; the middle age was 38. Terry had served 13 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Terry was 38. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Terry had served 13 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Terry was 38. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Terry had served 13 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
April holds 15.4% of these deaths at Oklahoma City Police Department; October holds the most, 23.1%. Thursdays: 30.8%.
April holds 6.7% of these deaths in OK; March holds the most, 12.6%. Thursdays: 21.5%.
April holds 7% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Thursdays: 14%.
April holds 7% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Thursdays: 14.2%.
How
Accident deaths account for 39.4% of all 33 deaths at Oklahoma City Police Department, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 23.2% of all 582 deaths in OK, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Oklahoma City Police Department has 33 officers remembered here, Terry among them.
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John Howard Jun 14, 1889
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John Milton Jones
Jun 30, 1895
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George W. Jackson Apr 12, 1898
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Morris R. Reagan
Feb 25, 1910
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William F. Byrd Aug 2, 1919
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Jess Sosbee
Dec 2, 1922
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Briggs Chumley
Nov 3, 1924
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Isaac D. Ashburn
Jul 20, 1928
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John D. Gates
Mar 23, 1930
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Charles York
Feb 8, 1933
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John Harold Beasley
May 22, 1933
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Douglas W. Gates
Dec 3, 1933
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Elmer Lee Sartor
Aug 20, 1934
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Ray S. Clark
May 23, 1936
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Frank Cissne
Apr 5, 1937
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Fred B. Counts
Aug 22, 1938
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Webb Loraine Campbell
Oct 29, 1938
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Reese F. Galyon, Jr.
Dec 22, 1951
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Benjamin F. Cravatt
Jul 16, 1954
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Eugene Henry Mills
Dec 11, 1954
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Ronald Lynn Haggard
Mar 21, 1963
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Mark H. Zelewski
Jul 27, 1964
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Michael J. Ratikan
Jun 14, 1971
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James Dewey Chamblin
Apr 15, 1974
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Terry Glen Lawson
Apr 21, 1977
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Gary Lee Ward
Feb 2, 1985
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Richard O. Riggs
Jan 7, 1986
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Delmar Warren Tooman
Sep 29, 1990
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Jeffrey Dean Rominger
Aug 31, 2000
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Jonathan Paul Dragus
Oct 20, 2005
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Robert Craig Douglas
Sep 28, 2008
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Kelley Allen Chase
Oct 13, 2012
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Meagan Burke
Sep 29, 2022
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 28-W
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Others Who Wore This Badge
32 officers from Oklahoma City Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
