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 United States 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 18 ReflectionsI was working for OUPD when this happened and remember going to his funeral in Red Rock, OK. A very sad day for his family and Norman PD.
Terry Bidwell
OUPD Patrolman
September 2, 2023
Recent LODD Deaths

Lieutenant Eddie Mays
Bernie Police Department, MO
EOW: June 5, 2025

Police Officer Gabriel Facio
Apache Junction Police Department, AZ
EOW: June 8, 2025

Police Officer Krystal Rivera
Chicago Police Department, IL
EOW: June 5, 2025

Sergeant J. D. White
Angleton Police Department, TX
EOW: June 1, 2025

Police Officer Timothy Ontiveros
Bloomfield Police Department, NM
EOW: June 1, 2025

Police Officer Samuel Riveros
Baldwin Park Police Department, CA
EOW: May 31, 2025

Deputy Sheriff Daniel Weston Sherrer
Morrow County Sheriff's Office, OH
EOW: May 26, 2025

Deputy Sheriff Nathaniel Ansay
Florence County Sheriff's Office, SC
EOW: May 20, 2025

Lieutenant Allen "Noochie" Credeur
Rayne Police Department, LA
EOW: May 5, 2025