Family, Community Remember OHP Trooper Who Died From COVID-19

An Oklahoma Highway patrolman passed away Saturday after a battle with COVID-19.

"No matter what he knew where he was going. He was either going to go home here to Atoka or go home to be here with the Lord," said Jenni Allen.

Allen is the proud daughter of late Oklahoma Highway patrol Trooper Jeff Sewell, and she wants the world to know her dad, a man, as well as trooper, who could give out a ticket here and there, but gave out warm smile more frequently. 

"He was silly, he was always the life of the party," Allen said. "He was just a big kid mainly."

Jenni said her dad was involved in Special Olympics, Polar Plunge and Tip-A-Cop, but his greatest passion was his annual participation with Cadet Lawman, a week long summer camp that gives selected high school seniors-to-be a first-hand taste of what it takes to be a trooper.

"He touched so many kids lives, and I think he was just a great role model for them," Allen said.

Captain Sewell had been in the hospital since September 5 because of COVID-19. He passed away at Texoma Medical Center in Denison, Texas on Saturday and was escorted home to Atoka by the Texas Department of Public Safety. Captain Scott Hampton said Jeff was shot in the wrist his first year as a trooper.

"He devoted his life to service, serving his church, serving his community and serving his state," Capt. Hampton said. "It's just a stark reminder, it's dangerous and not only are we facing cars that might hit us or gunfire, but also this virus."

Jeff's son-in-law and fellow trooper Tommy Allen said he will miss the memories he and his family will have with his father-in-law. 

"What I will miss most of all is him going to be able to see the grandkids growing up, it's just something that he's going to be miss out on. But, I think he's looking down on us," Allen said. 

Captain Sewell was just 20 months from retiring after a three-decade-long career with the OHP. Sewell's public funeral will be 2 p.m. Thursday, at the Atoka High School Football Field.