National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial

Officer Rank: Deputy Sheriff

Memorial Panel: 4-E: 23

Department: Muskogee County, Oklahoma, S.O.

End of Watch: September 17, 1932

Cause: SHOT

Age: 44

Years of Service: 4

Description: Deputy Reece, Officer Frank Edwards, Deputy Andrew McGinnis and Deputy J. Flippin formed a posse to apprehend members of the Tom Carlisle bandit gang who were wanted for murder. The posse set up a roadblock near Standing Rock. A police car was placed across the road with Deputy Reece behind it to signal the other officers, who were concealed beside the road, with a flashlight. A car came into the curve faster than expected and skidded to a stop blowing out one of the tires. Deputy Reece signaled with the flashlight and was immediately shot and killed by the occupants of the car. Officer Edwards was shot in the neck and died two months later of his injuries. Two suspects were killed in the shootout. Two suspects escaped but were apprehended by Deputy McGinnis and Deputy Flippin. The suspects were killed in the ensuing shoot-out. Deputy McGinnis died at the scene and Deputy Flippin died the next day.