McAlester Community Remembers Fallen Officer Joseph Barlow

Barlow’s friend and pastor spoke Wednesday at the funeral and both said he was a true servant. Barlow served his country in the army, served his state and community in law enforcement, and served his family as a son and a father.

Wednesday, March 29th 2023, 5:50 pm

By: Reagan Ledbetter

MCALESTER, Okla. -

The McAlester community and law enforcement from across the state said goodbye to McAlester Police Officer Joseph Barlow on Wednesday afternoon.

Barlow was killed in a head on crash while he was helping escort the body of a fellow McAlester Officer who had died days earlier.

Barlow’s friend and pastor spoke Wednesday at the funeral and both said he was a true servant.

Barlow served his country in the army, served his state and community in law enforcement, and served his family as a son and a father.

Thousands of people including friends, family, law enforcement and the public packed the McAlester Expo Center for the service to honor Barlow for making the ultimate sacrifice.

“His very first task, since he, uh, got selected to be on the honor guard, was to bring Captain Richard Parker home,” said fellow McAlester Officer and friend Colby Barnett.

Barlow served eight years in the Army, he worked for three years in the department of corrections as a guard, and was coming up on two years working for McAlester Police.

Barlow's training officer, Barnett, said Barlow was one of those guys everyone loved from the day he was hired.

He said Barlow always went above and beyond and was excited to protect his community.

“I had the privilege of being his training officer,” said Barnett. “His very first night we got into a foot chase and I tackled the guy. When we got him to jail, Joseph told me, ‘Man, I love this job.’ I told him don’t let your FTO beat you in a training exercise again.”

Barlow's service didn’t stop when he passed away. His organs were donated and that gave others a chance to live.

“He saved five people. That’s the kind of guy I want to be. I love you, buddy,” said Barnett.

A McAlester car dealership has been running a fundraiser for the last week for Officer Barlow and Captain Richard Parker’s family. As of Wednesday afternoon, they’ve raised raised $64,000.