Stephens County Sheriff's Office, Oklahoma
End of Watch Tuesday, May 13, 1930
Add to My HeroesWaldo A. Williams
Sheriff Williams and Chief Irvin Gossett, of the Duncan City Police Department, were shot and killed when they and several other officers attempted to stop a vehicle wanted for a local service station robbery. When they stopped the vehicle the occupants, four brothers ages 19 to 27, exited the vehicle and opened fire. Sheriff Williams was killed at the scene and Chief Gossett succumbed to his wounds five months later. One of the suspects was shot and killed at the scene and two others were wounded, one critically. The fourth suspect was apprehended in Gunnison, Colorado, a few days later. It was discovered that during the past year all four had committed several bank robberies in Oklahoma and Kansas.
All three were convicted of Sheriff Williams' murder and sentenced to life. One died in prison in 1932. The one who was critically wounded was paralyzed for life and paroled soon afterwards. He and his parents were killed in an automobile crash near Goodlett, Texas, in 1948. The forth suspect took part in a riot and prison escape on May 13, 1936, in which Prison Guard Charles Powell was killed. He was paroled on May 3, 1949, only to be sent back ten months later for armed robbery.
Sheriff Williams had served with the agency for 3 years. He was survived by his wife and two children.
Bio
- Age 61
- Tour 3 years
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Handgun
- Offender One shot and killed
Most Recent Reflection
View all 7 ReflectionsRest in peace and know that no passage of time can ever erase your service and sacrifice.
Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo
Delaware State Police (Retired)
October 7, 2020
Recent LODD Deaths
Police Officer Kyle Hicks
Corpus Christi Police Department, TX
EOW: April 24, 2024
Investigator John Hampton Coddou, III
Harris County Sheriff's Office, TX
EOW: April 23, 2024
Police Officer Jordan Wingate
Oakland Police Department, CA
EOW: April 20, 2024
Police Officer Luis M. Huesca
Chicago Police Department, IL
EOW: April 21, 2024
Deputy Sheriff Tobin Bolter
Ada County Sheriff's Office, ID
EOW: April 21, 2024
Deputy Sheriff Alfredo "Freddy" Flores
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, CA
EOW: April 20, 2024
Investigator Brian Herbert
Osage Nation Police Department, TR
EOW: April 17, 2024
Deputy Sheriff Fred Fislar
Hendricks County Sheriff's Office, IN
EOW: April 16, 2024
Police Officer Michael E. Jensen
Syracuse Police Department, NY
EOW: April 14, 2024