Tulsa Police Department, Oklahoma
End of Watch: Friday, March 26, 1982
Age: 35
Tour of Duty: 3 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Aircraft accident
Date of Incident: March 23, 1982
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Police Officer Clarence Whiteman and Police Officer Kelley Smythe were killed in a helicopter crash while assisting patrol officers during a car chase.
Dispatchers lost contact with the helicopter during the chase. It was later discovered to have struck a tree and crashed near 66th Street and Lakewood Avenue.
The helicopter program was only ten days old at the time of the accident.
Officer Whiteman had served with the Tulsa Police Department for three years.