Oklahoma County sheriff's office has been curating centuries of local true crime lore

On a recent Wednesday afternoon inside the sheriff’s office, Staff Sgt. Bradley Wynn pored over the pages of a century-old ledger listing crimes, criminals, jail time and fines.

“So, there’s a lot of murder,” Wynn said.

Indeed. The ledgers date back to 1890. Wynn estimates there are more than two tons of history in the thick volumes, which contain all manner of crime, from petty theft to homicide.

But the ledgers are only part of a wide array of sheriff’s office history Wynn has collected since 2013. The aim is to curate the artifacts in a remodeled sheriff’s office that is set for work later this year.

That means criminal justice enthusiasts and those with a general interest in history will be able to visit a one-stop shop filled with local law enforcement trinkets and lore — including old sheriff’s badges and handcuffs, deputy weapons and even a Tommy gun from the Prohibition Era.

“They were forced to arm up to match the firepower the gangsters had at the time,” Wynn said.

Well-known Oklahoma outlaws, stories and more will be available

The collection includes photographs and stories of local law enforcement officers, and well-known outlaws.

There is Leona McMullen Paine, who in 1942 was the first woman to be deputized by the sheriff’s office. She was given a badge, but not a gun. Paine worked as a general secretary.

There is Theodore Cole, who was held in the county jail in 1935 for kidnapping and a murder sentence. Notes on his case say he was transferred to Alcatraz in October 1935, but escaped the San Francisco Bay prison in 1937, never to be seen again.

There is George Kelly Barnes — “Machine Gun” Kelly — seen being escorted into town by Sheriff Stanley Rogers on Oct. 2, 1933, as he faced a kidnapping case.

Found in one of the ledgers, there is a photo of President Theodore Roosevelt in Oklahoma City. The photo is believed to have been taken near the Skirvin Hotel during a 1912 campaign stop.

“There’s a lot of interesting history within our walls that we’re still learning about,” Wynn said.

Sheriff Tommie Johnson III praised Wynn's efforts.

"Here at the Oklahoma County sheriff's office, we are truly blessed to have someone like Staff Sgt. Wynn who is so passionate about the history of this agency," Johnson said. "He donates hundreds of hours of his own time to maintain that history. We stand on the shoulders of giants, and we only know the stories of their accomplishments because of Brad's commitment."

Wynn sometimes receives unique requests related to the sheriff's office history collection.

Those seeking to know about their genealogy sometimes contact Wynn. They include a man from Ireland who thought his grandfather might have been gunned down locally.

Wynn helped the man discover that his grandfather was involved with a woman addicted to morphine. He shot and killed her at a house near what is now Devon Tower. Wynn and the man found his grandfather’s local grave.

At least one ledger has several Native Americans listed, which can be a powerful tool for families conducting research.

“I think that by sharing these stories, whether it be a tour or whatever, is to connect people,” Wynn said. “I think that’s important. And to connect them to their communities, because these are things that affected them and that’s why things are the way that they are.”

Wynn continues to connect communities by collecting pieces of history as it passes. That includes heartbreaking pieces like the patrol car door panel with bullet holes in it.

Sgt. Bobby Swartz, a 58-year-old deputy used to drive the car. Swartz was shot to death in 2022 while serving an eviction notice in southwest Oklahoma City.

Looking at the door panel, Wynn said: “It is part of our story.”

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Crimes, famous outlaws recorded in Oklahoma County ledger history