Oran H. Pape
Encyclopedia
Oran Henry Pape was a member of the Iowa State Patrol
in the United States
. To date, he is the only member of the Patrol to have been murdered in the line of duty.
Prior to joining the Patrol, Pape played American football
. He played high school football
at Dubuque Senior High School
, where he was part of the 1924 Iowa State championship football team. Pape then played college football
at the University of Iowa
. Following college, he played in the National Football League
for the Green Bay Packers
, the Minneapolis Red Jackets, the Providence Steam Roller
, the Boston Braves
, and the Staten Island Stapletons
, it was with the Packers, that he was a member of their 1930 NFL Championship team, he left the NFL in 1934, and returned to Iowa, where he attended the State Police Academy in Ft. Dodge
.
Pape was appointed to the newly formed Iowa Highway Patrol (later Iowa State Patrol
) in August 1935, one of the first men to become an officer in the Patrol.
On April 28, 1936, Pape was patrolling U.S. Highway 61 near Muscatine, Iowa
. He noticed a car that had been reported stolen. After pulling the car over, Pape approached the car. The driver, Roscoe Barton, pointed his gun at Pape and ordered him into his car. Barton drove away with Pape as his hostage. A short while later, Pape saw an opportunity to overpower Barton, and the two began struggling. During the struggle, Barton was shot in the head, and Pape was shot in the abdomen.
Both men were taken to Mercy Hospital (now Genesis Medical Center) in Davenport
. Barton died from his injuries soon after arriving at the hospital. Pape was treated for his gunshot wound, however his condition eventually took a turn for the worse. Doctors were unable to transfuse blood into him because of his collapsed veins.
Pape died at 2:40pm on April 30. He was buried at Linwood Cemetery
in Dubuque. Pape's badge number 40 was retired from service.
The death of Pape is one of the main reasons the Patrol began the practice of "cross drawing" guns. In this practice, officers wear their guns opposite their strong arm. In theory, an officer would be able to hold on to a person with their strong arm and be able to draw their weapon at the same time.
Iowa State Patrol
The Iowa State Patrol is the state police organization in the state of Iowa. Currently, there are just over 378 officers in the patrol. State Troopers are responsible for patrolling over of roadways in the state. The State is broken into . Their primary concern is enforcing motor vehicle laws,...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. To date, he is the only member of the Patrol to have been murdered in the line of duty.
Prior to joining the Patrol, Pape played American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
. He played high school football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
at Dubuque Senior High School
Dubuque Senior High School
Dubuque Senior High School is a four-year public high school located in Dubuque, Iowa. It is one of three high schools in the Dubuque Community School District, and enrolls 1,447 students in grades 9-12. Senior was founded in 1858, and is the oldest secondary school in Dubuque...
, where he was part of the 1924 Iowa State championship football team. Pape then played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
. Following college, he played in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
for the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
, the Minneapolis Red Jackets, the Providence Steam Roller
Providence Steam Roller
The Providence Steam Roller was a professional American football team based in Providence, Rhode Island in the National Football League from 1925 to 1931. Providence was the first New England team to win an NFL championship...
, the Boston Braves
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
, and the Staten Island Stapletons
Staten Island Stapletons
The Staten Island Stapletons also known as the Staten Island Stapes were a professional American football team founded in 1915 that played in the National Football League from 1929 to 1930. The team was based in the Stapleton section of Staten Island. Under the shortened nickname the "Stapes"...
, it was with the Packers, that he was a member of their 1930 NFL Championship team, he left the NFL in 1934, and returned to Iowa, where he attended the State Police Academy in Ft. Dodge
Fort Dodge, Iowa
Fort Dodge is a city and county seat of Webster County, Iowa, United States, along the Des Moines River. The population was 25,206 in the 2010 census, an increase from 25,136 in the 2000 census. Fort Dodge is a major commercial center for North Central and Northwest Iowa. It is located on U.S...
.
Pape was appointed to the newly formed Iowa Highway Patrol (later Iowa State Patrol
Iowa State Patrol
The Iowa State Patrol is the state police organization in the state of Iowa. Currently, there are just over 378 officers in the patrol. State Troopers are responsible for patrolling over of roadways in the state. The State is broken into . Their primary concern is enforcing motor vehicle laws,...
) in August 1935, one of the first men to become an officer in the Patrol.
On April 28, 1936, Pape was patrolling U.S. Highway 61 near Muscatine, Iowa
Muscatine, Iowa
Muscatine is a city in Muscatine County, Iowa, United States. The population was 22,886 in the 2010 census, an increase from 22,697 in the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Muscatine County...
. He noticed a car that had been reported stolen. After pulling the car over, Pape approached the car. The driver, Roscoe Barton, pointed his gun at Pape and ordered him into his car. Barton drove away with Pape as his hostage. A short while later, Pape saw an opportunity to overpower Barton, and the two began struggling. During the struggle, Barton was shot in the head, and Pape was shot in the abdomen.
Both men were taken to Mercy Hospital (now Genesis Medical Center) in Davenport
Davenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...
. Barton died from his injuries soon after arriving at the hospital. Pape was treated for his gunshot wound, however his condition eventually took a turn for the worse. Doctors were unable to transfuse blood into him because of his collapsed veins.
Pape died at 2:40pm on April 30. He was buried at Linwood Cemetery
Linwood Cemetery (Dubuque)
Linwood Cemetery is located in Dubuque, Iowa. It is located on Windsor Avenue in the north end of Dubuque.The cemetery is one of the main cemeteries in Dubuque. Originally established for the Protestants of the city, the cemetery now serves members of all faiths...
in Dubuque. Pape's badge number 40 was retired from service.
The death of Pape is one of the main reasons the Patrol began the practice of "cross drawing" guns. In this practice, officers wear their guns opposite their strong arm. In theory, an officer would be able to hold on to a person with their strong arm and be able to draw their weapon at the same time.