Last Updated on August 26, 2022, 5:39 PM | Published: August 26, 2022
OKLAHOMA CITY (Free Press) — Three different Oklahoma County Sheriffs under whom Sgt. Bobby Swartz had served all praised him for his service and personal qualities during the funeral for him Friday.
Swartz was killed in the line of duty by a well-prepared gunman on the south side Monday when he and two other deputies went to a house near S.W. 78th and Youngs to serve an eviction notice to the son of the owner of a house there.
One deputy, Melody Norton was on the other side of the house and was not wounded. But, the third, Deputy Mark Johns was seriously wounded by gunfire from the same assaillant when he went to the aid of Swartz.
Johns was rushed into surgery at the OU Medical Center soon after the shooting and is recovering.
‘Servant’s heart’
At the funeral, former Sheriff John Whetsel who originally hired Swartz, praised him for having “a servant’s heart, being “selfless,” and serving with “pride and professionalism.
“He was good at what he did,” said Whetsel to the large crowd of law enforcement personnel, their families, and others who came to pay their respects and support the family.
Whetsel said that during his tenure he witnessed Swartz’s efforts to grind through recovering from severe injuries he sustained in an off-duty motorcycle accident “that really should have ended his law enforcement career, but he was determined that it would not.”
“He spent grueling hours working to regain the strength and mobility he needed to get back in the field. And he succeeded,” said Whetsel.
Said Whetsel, “Bobby had the traits that every good law enforcement officer must possess: the courage to do what is right, the bravery to face the unknown, compassion and concern for others, dedication to his family and his profession, and the willingness to sacrifice his very life to protect the citizens he served.”
‘Team player’
Former Sheriff P.D. Taylor reminded those in attendance at the service that, “There are no more routine traffic stops. There are no more routine calls. It’s a dangerous job.”
Taylor said that Swartz was “very well respected” and was “a team player.”
“He loved his job. He loved his profession. And he loved his family,” said Taylor.
‘Doing what he loved’
“Bobby was killed last Monday doing what he loved serving his community with bravery and compassion and truly defines what it means to be a hero,” said current Sheriff Tommie Johnson III.
The Sheriff said people had reached out to them in the last few days to tell stories about how Swartz had helped them.
“The Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office saw the face of evil this week. Indeed we did,” said Johnson. “But, we also saw how the love of thousands of people could snuff out that evil. The man who killed Bobby broke our hearts. But he will never break our spirit.”
Much support
A processon of civilian and police motorcyclists plus police cars escourted the coach carrying Swartz’s remains to Crossings Church on the north side of Oklahoma City for the 1 p.m. service Friday.
And, on the way to the burial at a cemetary on the far south side, a procession of police motorcyclists as well as police cars were in escourt as well as officers blocking off traffic ahead before the procession passed interchanges.
Drivers going in the opposite direction along the way both to the church and to the cemetery pulled over out of respect to the fallen deputy.
Founder, publisher, and editor of Oklahoma City Free Press. Brett continues to contribute reports and photography to this site as he runs the business.
