Deputy Sheriff Joseph Lewis Latimer

Joseph Lewis Latimer

Deputy Sheriff Joseph Latimer was killed in a vehicle crash at SH 65 and Central Street as he responded to a call to backup officers involved in a gang shootout.

Deputy Latimer was assisting Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers to investigate a traffic collision just north of Temple, Oklahoma. During the investigation, Temple Police requested assistance in dealing with a large crowd at the scene of a drive-by shooting. Deputy Latimer radioed that he was responding to assist the Temple officers. The dispatcher then lost radio contact with him.

A short time later, a Temple officer found Deputy Latimer's wrecked patrol car. Deputy Latimer had been thrown 15-feet from the vehicle. He was airlifted to a hospital in Lawton but was pronounced dead on arrival on the morning of October 19th, 1995.

Deputy Latimer is survived by his wife and daughter.