Tulsa's Police officer memorial

Monday, May 3rd 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

May is set aside to honor police officers killed in the line of duty. Tulsa has lost 39 officers and volunteers have been trying to raise money for a local memorial, honoring each one of them.

News on 6 crime reporter Lori Fullbright looks back at some of Tulsa's fallen officers and updates the efforts to build them a lasting tribute. 39 officers between 1917 and 1996, who promised to serve and protect Tulsa citizens with their very lives, did just that.

The most recent was Officer Dick Hobson who was ambushed in an alley in 1996. Before that, was newlywed and former TU football star, Gus Spanos, shot to death by a drug dealer in 1993.

Each story is unique, in 1982; Officers Chance Whiteman and Kelly Smythe were the department's first helicopter officers who crashed while following a police chase. 1981, Officer Fabrienne Van Arsdell pulled over a drunk driver and while she was running a check, another drunk slammed into her patrol unit, pinning her inside the burning car.

In 1948, Officer Claud Lynch rushed to help a fellow officer who was fighting a suspect over a gun, the gun went off, Lynch was killed. These stories and others like them are behind the effort to build a permanent memorial to Tulsa's fallen heroes.

Memorial coordinator Tulsa Police officer Mark Wollmershauser: "So, the memory of the officers who gave their lives will never be forgotten." They've raised half the money, enough to build the statute of the officer handing a folded flag to a little girl, but they still need $400,000 to build a walkway with granite stones for each officer killed.

To help, they're selling these limited edition miniature police cars for $20 each. Only 90 are left. They're also selling police blankets for $35. It's not just citizens who are pitching in to help, but officers too. Through payroll deductions, they've raised $60,000 so far.

They say the memorial should honor those who've died and remind us other officers are still protecting us who might be called to make the same sacrifice. The memorial will be completely funded by donations.

You can visit their web site at www.tpdmemorial.com for more information.

Tulsa's police officer memorial service will be this Saturday at 10 AM. It will be at the Tulsa Police Training Academy, 66th Street North east of US Highway 75.