United States Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Government
End of Watch: Wednesday, January 12, 1949
Age: 51
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: January 12, 1949
Weapon Used: Handgun; .22 caliber
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life imprisonment
Postal Inspector Ernest Harkins was shot and killed in the Main Post Office and Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
He was checking his post office box when a man walked up next to him and shot him in the back of the head. The suspect was upset at Inspector Harkins over the loss of two $20 money orders. The man remained at the scene and turned himself in after murdering Inspector Harkins.
He plead guilty to murder on a government reservation and was sentenced to life in prison. He died in prison on July 31st, 1971, at the age of 96.
Inspector Harkins was survived by his wife and two daughters.