Sergeant Joe Allen Gamble

Sergeant Joe Allen Gamble

Oklahoma Department of Corrections, Oklahoma

End of Watch Tuesday, June 6, 2000

Add to My Heroes

Joe Allen Gamble

Sergeant Joe Gamble was killed after being stabbed by an inmate at the Oklahoma State Reformatory, a low maximum-security prison, in Granite.

As officers began locking down the prison for a head count, the suspect began to attack another officer in a common area of the prison, stabbing him 16 times in the back of the head and back. When Sergeant Gamble went to assist the other officer, the inmate stabbed him in the throat with one of two homemade knives he had. The suspect was taken under control after a brief standoff with the prison's emergency response team.

Both officers were transported to a local hospital where Sergeant Gamble died the next morning.

The suspect, 24, who was serving a 10-year sentence for drug possession and tax fraud, was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole on October 26, 2001.

Sergeant Gamble was a United States Air Force veteran and had served with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections for three years. He was survived by his wife and four boys.

The medium-security prison in Holdenville was renamed the Allen Gamble Correctional Center.

Bio

  • Age 28
  • Tour 3 years
  • Badge Not available
  • Military Veteran

Incident Details

  • Cause Stabbed
  • Incident Date Monday, June 5, 2000
  • Weapon Edged weapon; Knife
  • Offender Sentenced to life

correctional Facility, prisoner custody

Most Recent Reflection

View all 37 Reflections

Sgt. Gamble,
On today, the 25th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice-not just as a Law Enforcement Officer but for our Country as well when you served with the U.S. Air Force. And to your Family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

BPA Mike Casey
United States Border Patrol(Retired)

June 6, 2025

Create an account for more options, or use this form to leave a Reflection now.