Newspaper Clippings & Other Sources  Some Indian Police Officers

Submitted by:  Michael Tower    mtower@telepath.com
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The following is a listing of  Indian Police officers I've verified
through various sources.

Open Letter to Deputies of the Indian Police

Though not as well known as their associates, the United States Deputy
Marshals, the United States Indian Police, composed of the Sheriffs and
Constables of the Chickasaw Nation, were as fearless and active in 
enforcing the laws of Indian Territory as the Marshals.  They affected 
several notable arrests and many lost their lives in their efforts.  It 
was expected of these men that they would go beyond mere duty to enforce 
tribal and Federal laws, as this November, 1894, open challenge from 
Indian Agent D. M. Wisdom establishes:  

“I, hereby direct you, with or without warrant, to arrest all outlaws,
thieves, and murderers in your section and if they resist, you will shoot
them on the spot.  And, you will aid and assist all U. S. Deputy Marshals 
in the enforcement of the laws and make yourself a terror to evil doers....
If afraid, turn in your resignation and I’ll appoint better men in your place.
This is no time for cravens and cowards to hold official positions and
wear badges of office.” ......Don’t leave much room for argument, do it?

Known Indian Law Enforcement Officers working in old Garvin County prior
to Statehood:

Pickens County, Old Chickasaw Nation:
1882-1885: Capt. Richard C. Wiggs, intermarried Chickasaw,  Sheriff.
1880-1884: Sam Paul, Chickasaw, advanced to Sergeant in the United States Indian

Police at Pauls Valley, Pickens County,
1885-1890: Newton G. Frazier, Chickasaw,  Sheriff.
1886: Fred Waite, Chickasaw, one time friend to Billly the Kid, was a U. S. Indian
    Police Constable at Pauls Valley
1887, Grove Chase, Sheriff his
1887  Constables: Charles Brown, Dave Sealy, and Charles Mule.
1893: Joe Gaines, Constable, and Dep. U. S. Marshal,  (was shot and
    killed on the streets of Pauls Valley by John Stevenson.)
1893: Ed Carter, was selected to replace Joe Gaines as Constable for
    Pauls Valley.
1893:  A. M. Burch, Constable at Wynnewood, (quit in a wage dispute
    after Judge Stewart cut the fee schedule for Constables to one 
    quarter of that received by the Federal Marshals, and gained an 
    appointment as a Federal Marshal.)
1893:  A. N. Hill replaced Burch at Wynnewood.

Pontotoc County, Old Chickasaw Nation:
1877:  ? McClain, Sheriff
1886: John Walner, Chickasaw, of Wynnewood, was constable in the U. S. Indian
    Police; in the 1890’s Walner was commissioned a Dep. U. S. Marshal.
1887-1893: James Frazier, Chickasaw,  Sheriff
    Frazier’s Constables: Charles Stuart and Charles Strickland  (In
    1893, Stuart was appointed Federal Judge of the Commissioner’s Court
    at Ardmore while Strickland in 1893-94 became Sheriff of Pontotoc County.)