In the early 20th century, a sense of duty and the call to maintain peace defined the life of Constable Harrison Jones of the Bartlesville Police Department in Oklahoma. A White male, his commitment to his community was unwavering, a dedication that would ultimately cost him his life on a February night in 1911.
The evening of February 17th began with a disturbance at a local dance.
A group of men had descended upon the gathering, their aggression escalating to the point of physically attacking some of the attendees. After causing a commotion, the men fled the scene, seeking refuge in a nearby home where they barricaded themselves inside. Constable Jones, upon being alerted to the situation, responded to the call. Recognizing the potential for danger, he deputized two citizens to assist him.
Upon arriving at the residence, Constable Jones and his impromptu deputies ordered the men to surrender and come out of the house. The command was met with defiance, and the tense standoff quickly erupted into a violent exchange of gunfire. In the chaos of the shootout, Constable Jones was struck by a bullet, sustaining a fatal wound. The shooter was also injured during the gunfight before being taken into custody.
The man responsible for Constable Jones's death was subsequently tried and convicted of manslaughter. A sentence of 15 years in prison was handed down, seemingly bringing a measure of justice to the tragic loss of the constable. However, the legal proceedings took an unexpected turn. On May 21, 1913, the Oklahoma Criminal Court of Appeals reversed the verdict, leading to the suspect's release from prison.
