Honoring police officers who served in or died in what is now the state of Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Memorial enables connections with audiences in multiple ways for people in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Commemorating all who protected and served the state of Oklahoma, the memorial allows people to experience the history of the state in a way that connects them to the present of the space and community.
The First Permanent State Law Enforcement Memorial
The idea to create a memorial that would honor all of Oklahoma’s law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty first came up in 1965 when the Department of Public Safety secured a physical location. Originally called the Oklahoma Peace Officer’s Memorial, it was the first permanent state law enforcement memorial in the United States when it was dedicated in 1969.
When it was newly created, the memorial consisted of seven granite pieces with the names of 360 fallen officers engraved on them. Since then, many more have been added, honoring state, county, municipal, federal and tribal officers. Set amidst flowers and other greenery, flag poles displaying the flags of the United States and Oklahoma on the north and south side of the memorial provided further definition of the space. However, numerous other individual memorials have also been added to it.
An open Bible carved out of granite features two Biblical verses engraved on the two open pages. Nearby is a sundial that has been engraved with quotations from four former presidents of the United States. A few of the markers feature engravings, the most notable being the engraved portraits of three pioneer Oklahoma lawmen, Bill Tilghman, Heck Thomas and Chris Madison who became known as “The Three Guardsmen” of Oklahoma.
New names are added to the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Memorial on an annual basis, highlighting how it continues to be part of the community. This connection has ensured that audiences will continue to engage with the space and the legacy that it represents.
Honoring the Legacy of Oklahoma
Located on the west grounds of the Department of Public Safety Headquarters, the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Memorial represents a legacy that connects the past and future of the entire space in an area that might otherwise be empty. Created and maintained solely by tax-deductible donations, the memorial showcases the sort of engagement and connection that can be cultivated and grown in practically any location to honor individuals while also supporting entire communities.
