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Posted by: USMCMP5811

From the Sapulpa, Oklahoma Police Department.

It is with great sorrow that we advise of the line of duty death of one of our fellow officers. On Saturday, July 30th, 2005 at approximately 2359, Officer Larry W. Cantrell of the Supulpa Police Department was killed in a vehicle accident while responding to back officers who were in a foot pursuit. Officer Cantrell was 34 years old and had been with our agency for over a year. Officer Cantrell previously had worked with the Vinita, OK Police Department. Also killed in the accident was Officer Cantrell's father who was riding with him. Funeral arrangements are pending at this time. Additional information reguarding service dates and times will be fowarded later. If any further information is needed, Contact either, Chief Jim Wall, or Captain Rick Rumsey at the Sapulpa Police Department. (91 224-3862

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Posted by: frapmpd24

God bless and thoughts are with the family. I saw that come over CJIS last night. What a tragic incident and his father too.

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Posted by: USMCMP5811

Oklahoma Police Officer And His Father Killed In Crash

NICOLE BURGIN
Courtesy of www.ktul.com


Sapulpa -- An entire police department is in mourning following the tragic crash that killed a local officer on duty. Sadly, the officer's father was also killed. It happened shortly after midnight on Highway 66 in Sapulpa.

Authorities say the officer was speeding to a call. We're told the officer's father was on a ride-along with his son, when their cruiser was forced to veer off the road at a high speed, eventually flipping over.

Police say there was a second car involved. But, to what extent is still under investigation. In the dark, you could barely make out the silhouette of a helicopter. With no time to waste, Officer Larry Cantrell was airlifted to a Tulsa hospital.

But, despite the intense effort, the Sapulpa officer died.

"We are all going to take this real hard," said Sergeant Mike Haefner, who wears a black band on his badge -- a symbol of a fallen officer.

"I've been an officer for over sixteen and a half years, and I hoped I would go a complete career and never see a fellow officer from this department in this situation," Haefner says. "Unfortunately we all realize how things can happen in an instant."

The 34-year-old officer ran off the highway and rolled his patrol car. His father, Charles Cantrell, sat next to him. He was participating in a ride-along.

Charles Cantrell died at the scene.

It was difficult to gain perspective at night. But, by light, you could see the long skid marks from the officer's car.

Cantrell was headed to a 'burglary in progress' call when Louis Algel's wife pulled onto the highway. Algel says she had crossed two lanes and was about in the middle of the five-lane highway.

"She didn't hear a siren," he says. "She saw the lights, she stopped and that's when the accident occurred. She's a nervous wreck. She feels somehow she is responsible for what happened. She's pretty shaken up."

And, police haven't yet finished their investigation. But, the grief has started.

Officer Cantrell is the fourth Sapulpa officer to die in the line of duty. Fellow officers have already added his name to the memorial plaque at the police department. Until Sunday, the last officer added to the list was in 1934.

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