Patrolman Melvin Oliver Miner

Patrolman Melvin Oliver Miner | Norman Police Department, Oklahoma
Norman Police Department, Oklahoma
Patrolman Melvin Oliver Miner

Norman Police Department, Oklahoma

End of Watch Sunday, July 30, 1972

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Melvin 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 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

Incident Details

  • Cause Gunfire
  • Weapon Shotgun; 12 gauge
  • Offender Sentenced to life

domestic, field training, murder suspect, vehicle pursuit

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Officer Miner,
It saddens me greatly to know of the sacrifice you had to make on this hot summer evening in 1972. I was but a 4 year old boy then and my uncle is the cause of this incident. I never knew him and know he has been locked away since this tragedy.

I have dedicated my adult life to a career as a Law Enforcement Officer, first as an Army MP, then as Deputy Sheriff with the Lane County Sheriff's Office in Lane County, Eugene, Oregon. I have been with the agency 26 years and hope to have made some difference to this world we live in, such as you have clearly made based on my reading the comments above. I have lost several of my Blue Brothers, in the line of duty and outside the line of duty. It hurts........

I am very, very sorry for the pain this insufferable, inconsiderate person dealt your agency, your family, your brothers and sisters and to Norman. God will decide his fate one day, meanwhile my hope is that he remains in the custody of Oklahoma State Penn.

Truly and Sincerely,
Gordon Wayne Gill

Sergeant Gordon W. Gill
Lane County Sheriff's Office

April 17, 2016

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