The names of three area lawmen will be among the 13 Oklahoma and Texas officers’ names added to the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial in Washington, D.C. Tuesday.
The names Jefferson County Deputy Louis M. Harvill, Grayson Township Constable William A. Hood and Love County Sheriff Sam H. Randolph will be dedicated on the memorial, located in Judiciary Square, during the 20th Annual Candle Light Vigil, according to Sheldon Sperling, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The event observes National Peace Officers Memorial Day.
Harvill and Hood were both shot about 10 p.m. Jan. 28, 1928 as they walked between two parked cars. Harvill died within the hour. Hood died five days later.
Randolph was in a Thackerville store about 6 p.m. May 25, 1934, campaigning for re-election when Constable John Smith approached him complaining that he was not given proper credit for arresting a murder suspect earlier. During a heated argument Randolph slapped Smith. Smith drew his gun and shot Randolph in the heart killing him instantly.
Other officer’s names being added to the national memorial include:
* Haileyville Police Officer Richard D. Bell — shot killed on October 6, 1909;
* Wister City Marshal Robert T. Blassingame — shot June 17, 1928 and died from his injuries three weeks later.
* Capt. Charles W. Bowman, Muskogee Police Department, — shot and died June 6, 1927.
* Lampasas County Texas Deputy George M. Doolittle — shot and killed in near Lexington, I.T. January 8, 1879.
* Oklahoma County Deputy Sheriff Levi A. Ezzell — who died August 24, 1914, when his gun discharged while chasing a teenage bicycle thief.
* Muskogee Police Officer Leslie Jennings — died after he was hit be a car while issuing a was issuing a traffic ticket July 14, 1924.
* Braggs Deputy Constable George Johnson Kirk — shot in killed by train robbers on June 18, 1909.
* Ada Police Officers Hughey L. Rogers — died November 4, 1926 during a gunfight with a suspect.
* Byars Police Officer Elijah C. Smith — shot to death while investigating a burglary-in-progress June 27, 1937.
* Creek County Deputy Sheriff Thomas E. Tyus — died July 20, 1911 when he was shot by a night watchman who did not know he was an officer.
Friday Sperling delivered the keynote address at the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Memorial, located on the grounds of the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety Headquarters in Oklahoma City during ceremonies commemorating the national observance
For more information the more than 650 officers who have died in the line of duty in Oklahoma go to the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Memorial web site at www.oklemem.com.
