The Officer Down Memorial Page Remembers . . .
 
Click here to submit this officer's photograph

Patch image: Pittsburg County Sheriff's Office, Oklahoma






Deputy Sheriff William A. Ford
Pittsburg County Sheriff's Office
Oklahoma

End of Watch: Sunday, August 10, 1941

Biographical Info
Age: 44
Tour of Duty: 17 years
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Sunday, August 10, 1941
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Three shot and killed; One executed

Deputy Ford was shot and killed as he attempted to stop four escaped prisoners. Deputy Ford, his partner, and an ex-prison guard who was with them, were alerted that the escape was taking place at the Oklahoma State Prison and intercepted the four escapees leaving in a vehicle, holding Warden Jess Dunn hostage. A gun battle ensued and Deputy Ford was shot in the head and killed. Warden Dunn, and three of the suspects were also shot and killed.

The fourth suspect was convicted of Warden Dunn's murder and executed in the electric chair on July 14, 1943.

One of the suspects who was killed was serving a life sentence for murdering Prison Guard Charles D. Powell at the same prison during a mass escape attempt on May 13, 1936.

Deputy Ford had been with the agency for 17 years and is survived by his wife and three children.

Related Line of Duty Deaths
Patch image: Pittsburg County Sheriff's Office, OklahomaPrison Guard Charles D. Powell
Oklahoma Department of Corrections, OK
EOW: Wednesday, May 13, 1936
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Patch image: Pittsburg County Sheriff's Office, OklahomaWarden Jess Dunn
Oklahoma Department of Corrections, OK
EOW: Sunday, August 10, 1941
Cause of Death: Gunfire

» Update this memorial» List all officers from this agency
» Printer friendly view» Officer down news
Terms of Use | Privacy Statement | Contact Us
Copyright © 1996-2009, The Officer Down Memorial Page, Inc.Back to ODMP Homepage