06/08/2026
Detective William Charles Meachum died June 8, 1920, the result of a gunshot wound. Detective Meachum was technically not a member of the police department when he was shot. The incident occurred about 3:45 A.M. near Archer and Main. Detective Meachum had resigned from the police force the previous evening to become the City Marshal at Bigheart, Oklahoma. He wanted to complete an investigation of some armed robbery suspects. He was shot during the attempted arrest by George H. Smith who fled and escaped. On June 19th, Smith was killed in a shootout with detectives in Kansas City, Missouri.
106 years later and we are still grateful for Detective Meachum.