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Officer Thomas E. Milstead | Tulsa Police Department, Oklahoma
Tulsa Police Department, Oklahoma

Officer

Thomas E. Milstead

Tulsa Police Department, Oklahoma

End of Watch: Wednesday, November 30, 1960

Biographical Info

Age: 64
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details

Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: May 11, 1960
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Committed

Officer Milstead, a clerk for the city animal shelter, was shot and critically wounded by a man following a dispute over a dog. The man left the shelter but returned and shot Officer Milstead. Officer Milstead died from his wounds almost six months later.

The 23 year-old suspect was found to be insane and committed in a mental institution. He was released in 1963. In 1999 he and his wife were convicted of the first degree murder of their 2-year-old son and sentenced to life. In 2004 the Oklahoma Court of Appeals reversed his conviction. The state decided not to retry him and released him from prison. His wife's conviction was upheld.