Westville Police Department, Oklahoma
End of Watch Friday, February 25, 1927
Add to My HeroesThomas Henry Rather
Officer Rather was shot and killed while questioning several suspects. He and another officer approached a vehicle occupied by two men and a woman. One of the men exited the vehicle and shot Officer Rather in the chest. He was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
The shooter was eventually apprehended, convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to death. His sentence was later commuted to life. He was released on April 1, 1949.
Officer Rather had been with the agency for five years and was survived by his wife and eleven children.
Bio
- Age 48
- Tour 5 years
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Handgun
- Offender Released in 1949
Most Recent Reflection
View all 7 ReflectionsHere in Oklahoma visiting family. Remembering our heritage and the sacrifices of our ancestors.
-Jeanie Martin Chavez great granddaughter of Thomas Rather
Jeanie Chavez
Great granddaughter, granddaughter of Ethel Naomi Rather Martin
January 3, 2014
Recent LODD Deaths
Captain Steven M. Gaudet, Jr.
Pearl River Police Department, LA
EOW: July 16, 2020
Lieutenant Erik K. Lloyd
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, NV
EOW: July 29, 2020
Master Detention Deputy Richard Barry
Lake County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: July 16, 2020
Police Officer Sheena Dae Yarbrough-Powell
Beaumont Police Department, TX
EOW: August 9, 2020
Corrections Officer Daniel G. Oaks
Yakima County Department of Corrections, WA
EOW: August 1, 2020
Special Agent John Bost, III
United States Department of Justice - Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, US
EOW: July 28, 2020
Sergeant Steven Splan
Bloomfield Hills Department of Public Safety, MI
EOW: August 2, 2020
Sergeant Corey Pendergrass
Lauderhill Police Department, FL
EOW: July 26, 2020
Master Sergeant Henry Turner
Louisiana Department of Corrections, LA
EOW: July 18, 2020