The Mannford Eagle (Mannford, Okla.), Vol. 1, No. 4, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 9, 1981 Page: 4 of 14
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Mannford Area Newspapers and was provided to The Gateway to Oklahoma History by the Keystone Crossroads Historical Society.
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■
LOOKING BICK
MN 4
Mannford Eagle, Thursday, April 9, 1981
Former Sheriff Had Few Problems Enforcing Laws in Creek County
used his gun on occasion.
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He could have used more
men in his department. and sheriff.
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PIRATE CENTER
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Mens Hair Styling
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Next to the sun and the moon, the planet Venus is the brightest object in the sky.
) & Associates
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umae I
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GULF GROUP
leather
Ausmus
WE TRY TO
SATISFY
though he can’t recall
shooting anyone.
GULF
INSURANCE
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Former Creek County Sheriff Dee Ausmus, Sr. of Sapulpa, retains fond memories of
his law enforcement days. Although the 83-year-old former officer spends his time
working actively at home, he still keeps his badge and gun, which have become a part
of the soft-spoken, congenial professional.
TRAVELERS
Insurance Companies
Ausmus in recognition of 20
years of outstanding law
enforcement.”
Those who know him best
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Need Too Large or
Small For Our
Clients
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Insurance for non-drinkers only!
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mostly buying a police scanner.
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ever police calls. He thinks they think probably that the
probably best serve the
lawbreaker and hinder the
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hard then and nickles
pretty hard to make. You
don’t see much moonshine
anymore.” he said.
Target practice for Aus-
mus and his men was
usually down at the creek
where they shot at markers.
All his men were qualified
on shooting, and he reckons
if they hadn’t been, they
could have gotten into some
trouble in their jobs. There
were no requirements for
officer schooling. Instead of
extensive book education,
they substituted right and
wrong for legal and illegal,
and what advice they could
get was from the county
attorney. Justices of the
peace proved to be ample in
the days before district
attorneys were elected.
His men were hired by
application, and if a man
applied for a job who had
no criminal record, Ausmus
could consider putting him
to work. He didn’t have
many men leave the
department and he never
had to fire a deputy.
He just picked a common
man for the job, and
qualifications were truth-
fullness, honesty and de-
peniaviiiiy. He knew ihai
he could rely on those who
served Creek County.
He has never considered
living room wall. A placque perhaps agree that his
given to him on January 6. methods are still sufficient
1969. from Creek County and applicable to present
Citizens. reads: "To Dee times.
58
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retirement on January 1, He never had a close call
1969. he has kept only two but put in quite a few hours
reminders of his past. His on the job breaking up
snubnosed .38 and his family disturbances, which
badge are still as much a interrupted his time with
____ .c u:___.1.......... his wife and children
P*A • •a nzana "O *2‘vY ‘IV
during his active law There were a lot of fist
enforcement years. He fights, he recalls, when he
vows to keep both until he and his men arrested law
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breakers. They
relied on the
"slappers" and
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and remembers a time
when it was illegal for the
average citizen to monitor
wording is a little too
modest for the gentle,
soft-spoken man whose
the only times reserve Nor has he kept a word was as good as a
deputies worked were on scrapbook over the years, contract. He guided Creek
special occasions. He always chose to forget County law enforcement to
He contends that persons about a case once it was the best of his abilities
had more respect for finished. during his terms in office,
officers during his years as His one other momento and those citizens whom he
sheriff. "Times were pretty from days past hangs on his served so well would
By SHIRLEY SISSOM dies.
A man’s word was once Ausmus recalls that it was
good enough, and com- around 1944 when he went
bined with a handshake to work for Sheriff Guy
oftentimes sealed an Willibey, who served two
agreement. Law enforce- terms in office. After the
ment officers in days past election of Lee Johnson to
had few problems, save the position in 1948,
for bank holdups, fist fights Ausmus left law enforce-
- and illegal stills. For former ment for two years, coming
! Creek County Sheriff Dee back to defeat Johnson as
। Ausmus, Sr. of Sapulpa, sheriff in 1954. He would
the 20 years of active law serve four terms in office,
enforcement ended before He had few complaints
the crime rate in Creek from his men, although
County saw a sharp they were paid one-half of
increase. the salary deputies now
"We didn’t have too much earn. The only deputy still
in Creek County, and we serving Creek County who
didn’t miss many reported worked under Ausmus is
cases. Now they (the Chief Criminal investiga-
courts) turn lawbreakers tor, Jim Pinson.
out on bond and. I think, "I’ve worked for four
the court system is way too sheriffs and my respect for
• lenient," Ausmus said. Dee is a lot more than just a
The 83-year-old former former boss. He s been a
professional officer worked real inspiration in my life,
in construction before Pinson said.
becoming deputy. and Ausmus shared the feel-
helped to build most of the ings about his men and
older bridges in the county, claims that he got along
He now lives alone, since well with the eight who
the death of his wife, Lula served during his tenure in
r Jane, three years ago. His office. Pinson is one of four
‘4 well-kept modest home and of his former deputies still
appearance of his property living- Fred Booker and
belies the image of Barry Patterson live in the
inactiveness that usually Sapulpa area and Arthur
comes with age. Bishop makes his home in
Ausmus has two sons and Bristow.
two daughters. A son and Since his retirement 12
daughter live in Sapulpa years ago, he has watched
and his other two grown the homicide rate in Creek
children live in Tahlequah. County rise. When I was
During the vears. between sheriff, murder was a
his first days in law novelty. Now it’s common
enforcement and until practice, he mused.
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Sissom, Shirley. The Mannford Eagle (Mannford, Okla.), Vol. 1, No. 4, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 9, 1981, newspaper, April 9, 1981; Mannford, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc1948841/m1/4/?q=%22%22~1: accessed May 30, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Keystone Crossroads Historical Society.