Officer Down Memorial Page - http://www.odmp.org

Sergeant J. A.
Sapulpa Police Department, Oklahoma

Sergeant

J. A. "Doc" Hands

Sapulpa Police Department, Oklahoma

End of Watch: Sunday, March 3, 1918

Biographical Info

Age: 50
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details

Cause of Death: Assault
Date of Incident: March 2, 1918
Weapon Used: Person
Suspect Info: Not available

Sergeant Doc Hands succumbed to an injury sustained the previous day when he was struck in the head while walking into the police station.

The former acting police chief had engaged Sergeant Hands in an argument in front of the station. The former chief held a grudge against Sergeant Hands as the result of testimony the sergeant made that contributed to the chief's dismissal from the force.

As Sergeant Hands walked back into the police station the former chief struck him in the head, causing him to fall to the floor. The chief then kicked him in the head. Sergeant Hands suffered a fractured skull as a result of the attack and died the following morning.

Sergeant Hands was survived by his wife and two children.