Norman Police Department, Oklahoma
End of Watch Sunday, July 30, 1972
Add to My HeroesMelvin Oliver Miner
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 U.S. Air Force veteran and had served with the Norman Police Department for only six months. He is survived by his son.
Bio
- Age 25
- Tour 6 months
- Badge 9
- Military Veteran
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Shotgun; 12 gauge
- Offender Sentenced to life
Most Recent Reflection
View all 13 ReflectionsMel,
We served at Bergstrom AFB together. You were a true inspiration. I attended your funeral. A very sad day. I went on to serve local, state and federal law enforcement, finally retiring as a Asst. Federal Security Director under DHS. Through all the street enforcement, even in Bush Alaska, I never forgot your level headed mentoring and attitude with the 9th TRS. God bless you and your son, who I heard entered into the Brotherhood/Sisterhood of law enforcement. As you said, there are the wolves, the sheep and the sheepdogs.
Rupert Workman
Rupert Workman
USAF, Nampa Pd, Ca yon Co Sheriff's Office, Alaska , DHS air Sec
September 6, 2019
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