Sapulpa Police Department Shaken After Loss Of Its Own

The Sapulpa Police Department said it’s shaken to the core by the murder of one of their own. Co-workers of Pritchard said he took care of business and knew he always had their back.

Monday, August 17th 2015, 7:23 pm

By: News On 6

Sapulpa Police Department Shaken After Loss Of Its Own

Two people accused in the murder of a Sapulpa police lieutenant and his cousin were arrested Monday.

Enid police found Johnny Grafton and his girlfriend, Daphne Mason, sleeping outside a convenience store.

They were wanted for the murders of Johnny's father, Jeffrey, and his cousin, Lieutenant Trey Pritchard, Saturday night at a Midwest City motel.

Police said the two men went there to retrieve a truck Johnny had stolen from his father. They say Jeffrey Grafton went into the motel first to talk to his son and when he didn't come back, Pritchard went inside to check.

Both men were found shot to death.

A maid said she heard screaming then saw a man and woman leave the hotel.

Police found the stolen truck west of Oklahoma City and Enid police released surveillance video of the two suspects shopping at a Walmart Sunday afternoon.

The Sapulpa Police Department said it’s shaken to the core by the murder of one of its own. Co-workers said Pritchard took care of business and they knew he always had their back.

Lieutenant Jamie Noe said Pritchard was a devoted family man who loved his wife, five children and two grandbabies.

"He doted over them and loved them like none other," Noe said.

They said his second love was police work.

He had nearly 25 years of law enforcement experience - starting at Sapulpa Police as a dispatcher, then working for Creek County Sheriff's Office, before returning to Sapulpa to command his own squad.

"He wanted to make the world a better place," Noe said.

Pritchard became a skilled defensive tactics expert and CLEET certified instructor and spent hours teaching younger officers how to protect themselves.

That's why it's so hard for his fellow officers to learn he was ambushed and murdered.

“We're all shocked. We're having a hard time wrapping our heads around how something like this could happen, because if it could happen to Trey, it could happen to any of us," said Noe.

They said they're not surprised Pritchard died helping his cousin, who was a former Tulsa County deputy and close friend.

Flags all over Sapulpa are flying at half-staff to honor a man his co-workers say was courageous and always willing to help others.

"Trey's death leaves a hole in this department and it'll be a long time trying to fill. I don't know if it ever will be," said Noe.