United States Department of the Interior - Bureau of Indian Affairs - Division of Law Enforcement, U.S. Government
End of Watch Wednesday, August 1, 1906
Add to My HeroesBen C. Collins
Officer Ben Collins was shot and killed in Oklahoma by a hitman in retribution for the shooting of an armed fugitive. Officer Collins' murder happened in front of his home and was witnessed by his wife.
The suspect, famous outlaw and assassin Jim Miller, was arrested in 1909 for another murder and hung by a lynch mob, along with three other men. The mob had broken into the jail to lynch the murderer of Marshal Zeke Putnam, of the Allen, Oklahoma, Police Department. Miller was a cousin by marriage of the suspect that killed Deputy Sheriff John Turman in 1898.
Two of Officer Collins' nephews were also shot and killed in the line of duty while serving as police officers in Oklahoma. Patrolman Jim Keirsey, of the Seminole Police Department, was shot and killed on November 7, 1929, and Deputy William Keirsey, of the Carter County Sheriff's Department, was shot and killed on December 10, 1930.
Officer Collins is buried in Garden of Memory Cemetery, Colbert, Bryan County, Oklahoma.
Bio
- Age 31
- Tour Not available
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Location Oklahoma
- Weapon Shotgun; 8 gauge
- Offender Hung in 1909
Related LODD Deaths
Deputy Sheriff John Martin Calhoun Turman
Kimble County Sheriff's Office, TX
EOW: March 28, 1898
City Marshal E. M. "Zeke" Putnam
Allen Police Department, OK
EOW: January 16, 1909
Patrolman James A. "Jim" Keirsey
Seminole Police Department, OK
EOW: November 7, 1929
Deputy Sheriff William Conway Keirsey
Carter County Sheriff's Office, OK
EOW: December 10, 1930
Most Recent Reflection
View all 5 ReflectionsIt is not often that a family contributes so much and sacrifices to such a degree. Thanks Officer Collins for your service. I also thank your nephews and other family members who wore the badge--some of whom were also killed. All of you are special men who worked in a time where violence was often the order of the day. You had no bullet proof vests, radios or patrol cars--nor did you have the advanced medical care we have today. Again thanks for your sacrifice and your outstanding service to your community and to this great nation.
James Lopey, Assistant Sheriff (Ret)
Washoe County Sheriff's Office (Reno, Nevada)
Nevada DPS
August 1, 2019
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