Blog

Each week, we are proud to feature a customer's side hustle or small business. As your community bank, helping your business succeed is our main goal.

This week is extra special because we are showcasing a non-profit side hustle!

This week we are proud to feature the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Memorial!

Come see a representative from the OKLEM, learn more, and even donate this Friday at FNB's main bank in Midwest City. Address is 2911 S. Air Depot Blvd. MWC, OK 73110.

The Oklahoma Law Enforcement Memorial, originally called the Oklahoma Peace Officer's Memorial, was the first state law enforcement memorial built in the United States. It was dedicated on National Peace Officer's Memorial Day, May 15, 1969.

The memorial sets on the slope of the west grounds of the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety Headquarters, 3600 N. M. L. King Avenue in Oklahoma City.

The original memorial consisted of seven granite pieces with the names of 360 fallen officers' names engraved on them. Six more granite tablets have been added over the last 50 years and sit outside of the original memorial plaza. Almost five hundred names have been added to the memorial due to deaths and research that has discovered many more fallen officers. Almost half of all of the Deputy U.S. Marshals, their Posse and Guards who have died in the line of duty in the United States are engraved on the Oklahoma memorial.

Three years ago the memorial organization decided to put sidewalks around the six newer stones. When contractors came out to give a bid they discovered that the memorial plaza was sinking due to almost fifty years of rain running over and under the memorial. The memorial is now in the process of replacing the entire plaza. The new plaza will include sidewalks around the six, soon to be seven, newer stones. A seventh stone has been ordered to honor Oklahoma's law enforcement canine partners who have also died in the line of duty.

On Friday, May 18, 2018, they will conduct the 50th Annual Oklahoma Law Enforcement Officer's Memorial Service. Six more names will be dedicated on the memorial at that time plus we will rededicate the newly repaired and renovated memorial. The public is invited to attend the service honoring the service of all law enforcement officers and the eight hundred officers who have sacrificed their lives in that service.

The oldest known Oklahoma line of duty death is that of Cherokee Lighthorse Lieutenant John M. Brown who died in 1845. The stories of all known fallen offices and more information on the memorial and the annual service may be found on their web site at www.oklemem.com.

The estimated $180,000 renovation project has a completion date the end of this month.

Donations to the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Memorial may be made online or checks may be made payable to "O.L.E.M." and sent to:
Oklahoma Law Enforcement Memorial
PO Box 10776
Oklahoma City, OK 73140-1776

If you’re interested in OKLEM merchandise, please follow this link to their merchandise page.

For further information contact Dennis Lippe, Chairman of the Oklahoma law Enforcement Memorial at [email protected] or by mobile phone (405) 210-0541.