In the darkness of a Tulsa building, a dedicated police officer's life was cut tragically short in a fatal misunderstanding. On November 5, 1979, Officer Carl V. Kime, Jr., a 30-year-old male, was responding to a burglary call with his canine partner. As he searched the premises, a security guard inside the building saw the officer's silhouette through a glass door and mistook him for the burglar.
The security guard, believing he was confronting a criminal, discharged his shotgun,
striking Officer Kime. The wound proved to be fatal, ending the life of a man who had served the Tulsa Police Department for three years. The community and his fellow officers mourned the loss of a respected member of the force.
In the aftermath of the shooting, an investigation determined that the security guard had acted under the genuine belief that Officer Kime was an intruder. Consequently, the shooting was ruled an accident, and no criminal charges were filed against the security guard. There were no arrests made or suspects sought in connection with the tragic death of Officer Carl V. Kime, Jr. His death stands as a somber reminder of the inherent dangers faced by law enforcement officers and the split-second decisions that can have irreversible consequences.
