Norman Police Department, Oklahoma
End of Watch: Sunday, July 30, 1972
Age: 25
Tour of Duty: 6 months
Badge Number: 9
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: July 30, 1972
Weapon Used: Shotgun; 12 gauge
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Patrolman Melvin Miner was killed in a shootout with a man who had just murdered his own parents.
The subject had been voluntarily admitted to a psychiatric facility but left and murdered his parents. Witnesses to the murder notified local law enforcement, who located the vehicle and began to pursue it into Norman.
The pursuit entered the Lexington Crossing Mobile Home Park where the man drove into a cul-de-sac on Hippo Run. The man then exited his vehicle with a 12-gauge shotgun and opened fire on the officers as they exited their vehicles. Officer Miner was shot as he attempted to maneuver from his patrol car to find cover behind a mobile home. The man surrendered after shooting Officer Miner.
The man was apprehended, convicted of all three murders, and sentenced to life in prison. He was released in 2015 as the result of failing health.
Patrolman Miner was a United States Air Force veteran and had served with the Norman Police Department for only six months. He is survived by his son.