Prev
Incident
Officer John Beasley was shot and killed by a suspect he had just arrested. Officer Beasley responded to a drunk in the alley at Fourth and Hudson. The drunk was searched and a pistol found. The drunken man then threatened to blow up officers by pushing the switch on the box strapped to his body if the pistol was taken from him. The box contained 24 sticks of dynamite. Beasley was in the back seat of a police car with the suspect when they began struggling and Officer Beasley was shot twice. Other officers then shot and killed the suspect.
Survivors
Officer Beasley was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtqwh0b4xk68rts0zxb21- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew John. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Beasley served with the Oklahoma City Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Oklahoma City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Beasley.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Oklahoma City Police Department has lost 33 officers; 20 of them killed feloniously.
John is one of 403 officers killed feloniously in OK, 69.2% of the 582 remembered there.
John is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
John is one of 17,622 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,102 remembered here.
34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1933, 3 officers at Oklahoma City Police Department were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1933, 7 officers in OK were killed feloniously, the 14th heaviest of 114 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 15.
In 1933, 184 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 15th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1933, 186 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 18th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
John was 40. Of the 13 killed feloniously at Oklahoma City Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 44; the middle age was 34.
John was 40. Of the 335 killed feloniously in OK whose age is recorded, half were between 34 and 49; the middle age was 42.
John was 40. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.
John was 40. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
May holds 5% of these deaths at Oklahoma City Police Department; February holds the most, 15%. Mondays: 25%.
May holds 9.7% of these deaths in OK; June holds the most, 11.4%. Mondays: 12.7%.
May holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.
May holds 8.5% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Mondays: 13.8%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 60.6% of all 33 deaths at Oklahoma City Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 50% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 69.2% of all 582 deaths in OK, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 16.6% 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 gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 20.4% of these deaths.
His people
Oklahoma City Police Department has 33 officers remembered here, John among them.
-
John Howard Jun 14, 1889
-
John Milton Jones
Jun 30, 1895
-
George W. Jackson Apr 12, 1898
-
Morris R. Reagan
Feb 25, 1910
-
William F. Byrd Aug 2, 1919
-
Jess Sosbee
Dec 2, 1922
-
Briggs Chumley
Nov 3, 1924
-
Isaac D. Ashburn
Jul 20, 1928
-
John D. Gates
Mar 23, 1930
-
Charles York
Feb 8, 1933
-
John Harold Beasley
May 22, 1933
-
Douglas W. Gates
Dec 3, 1933
-
Elmer Lee Sartor
Aug 20, 1934
-
Ray S. Clark
May 23, 1936
-
Frank Cissne
Apr 5, 1937
-
Fred B. Counts
Aug 22, 1938
-
Webb Loraine Campbell
Oct 29, 1938
-
Reese F. Galyon, Jr.
Dec 22, 1951
-
Benjamin F. Cravatt
Jul 16, 1954
-
Eugene Henry Mills
Dec 11, 1954
-
Ronald Lynn Haggard
Mar 21, 1963
-
Mark H. Zelewski
Jul 27, 1964
-
Michael J. Ratikan
Jun 14, 1971
-
James Dewey Chamblin
Apr 15, 1974
-
Terry Glen Lawson
Apr 21, 1977
-
Gary Lee Ward
Feb 2, 1985
-
Richard O. Riggs
Jan 7, 1986
-
Delmar Warren Tooman
Sep 29, 1990
-
Jeffrey Dean Rominger
Aug 31, 2000
-
Jonathan Paul Dragus
Oct 20, 2005
-
Robert Craig Douglas
Sep 28, 2008
-
Kelley Allen Chase
Oct 13, 2012
-
Meagan Burke
Sep 29, 2022
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 63-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
32 officers from Oklahoma City Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
