Incident
Police Officer Fabrienne Van Arsdell was killed when her police car was rear-ended by a drunk driver during a traffic stop on South Lewis Avenue. She had stopped the original vehicle for drunk driving as well. When the second car struck her vehicle, it caught on fire and jammed the doors shut, trapping Officer Van Arsdell inside. The 32-year-old subject was convicted of first-degree manslaughter and sentenced to 7 years. Officer Arsdell had served with the Tulsa Police Department for five years. Her husband and father-in-law were Oklahoma state troopers.
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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.
Police Officer Van Arsdell gave the Tulsa Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Tulsa community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Van Arsdell.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Tulsa Police Department has lost 42 officers; 30 of them killed feloniously.
Fabrienne is one of 403 officers killed feloniously in OK, 69.2% of the 582 remembered there.
Fabrienne is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Fabrienne is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1981, 1 officer at Tulsa Police Department was killed feloniously, the 4th heaviest of 27 years on record. The heaviest was 1920, with 2.
In 1981, 2 officers in OK were killed feloniously, the 51st heaviest of 114 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 15.
In 1981, 126 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 39th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1981, 152 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 32nd heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Fabrienne was 27. Of the 23 killed feloniously at Tulsa Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 30.5 and 45; the middle age was 37. Fabrienne had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 10 years.
Fabrienne was 27. Of the 335 killed feloniously in OK whose age is recorded, half were between 34 and 49; the middle age was 42. Fabrienne had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
Fabrienne was 27. 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. Fabrienne had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Fabrienne was 27. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Fabrienne had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
July holds 10% of these deaths at Tulsa Police Department; April holds the most, 16.7%. Saturdays: 6.7%.
July holds 10.4% of these deaths in OK; June holds the most, 11.4%. Saturdays: 16.1%.
July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.
July holds 9% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Saturdays: 16.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 71.4% of all 42 deaths at Tulsa Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 13.3% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 69.2% of all 582 deaths in OK, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 3% 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 automobile, in 4.9% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 4.4% of these deaths.
Her people
Tulsa Police Department has 42 officers remembered here, Fabrienne among them.
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John Herrod Nov 9, 1917
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Glenn Allison
Feb 7, 1918
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W. C. Meacham
Jun 8, 1920
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Ed Yoakum Oct 27, 1920
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Harry H. Aurandt
Dec 20, 1921
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Robert Donnelly Feb 26, 1922
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Robert Jackson
Oct 31, 1927
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William Sydney Brooks
Dec 31, 1930
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James Wooley
Jan 23, 1931
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Henry C. Morrison Apr 23, 1933
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Lawrence B. Mitchell
Jul 22, 1934
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Walter N. Clark
Dec 10, 1936
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Edward W. Von Holten
Mar 24, 1937
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L. R. Rogers
Mar 16, 1941
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Walter C. Busch, Sr.
Oct 11, 1944
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Gerald M. St. Clair
Sep 2, 1946
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Sylvester Cormack
Sep 12, 1946
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Ben Johnston
Jan 3, 1947
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Ray Cowan
Feb 4, 1947
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Lawrence Inman
Mar 13, 1947
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Claude Silas Lynch
Nov 28, 1948
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James S. Peters
Apr 14, 1949
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Cornelius W. White
May 18, 1951
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Wallace Eugene Casey
May 12, 1957
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Nelson F. Williams
Jun 2, 1958
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Alan Yerton
Dec 24, 1959
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Thomas E. Milstead Nov 30, 1960
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Leroy E. Cowles
Sep 8, 1961
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Hubert Gerald Greer
Apr 27, 1962
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George Lee Brady
Apr 13, 1963
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Jerome Thurman Spybuck
Apr 3, 1971
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Glenn Truman Wortham
Jul 15, 1973
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Carl V. Kime, Jr.
Nov 5, 1979
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Don L. Byerley
Dec 15, 1980
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Fabrienne Margot Van Arsdell
Jul 25, 1981
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Kelley L. Smythe
Mar 26, 1982
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Chance Frederick Whiteman, III
Mar 26, 1982
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James Albert Slay
Nov 10, 1986
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Constantine George Spanos
Apr 23, 1993
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Dick Vernon Hobson, Jr.
Jun 11, 1996
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Craig Vincent Johnson
Jun 30, 2020
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Jerad Matthew Lindsey
Oct 28, 2020
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 63-W
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