William R. Hargraves, “Willy”
11/28/1977 – 08/19/2022
On the morning of 8/19/2022 at approximately 0800 hrs, Captain William Hargraves was traveling eastbound on US Highway 60 on his way to the Sheriff’s Office. Captain Hargraves was involved in a collision at the intersection of US Highway 60 and State Highway 18 where he succumbed to his injuries from the collision.
William Hargraves was hired in 1998 as a Jailer by Sheriff Russell Cottle. In 2000 he was promoted to Field Deputy. In 2003 he was promoted to K-9 Handler and worked drug interdiction and drug detection for the public schools within Osage County with his K-9 Jasmine.
In 2004 Sheriff Wes Penland promoted him to Patrol Sgt, where his duties consisted of the Supervision of patrol shifts while continuing to work with his K-9 Partner.
In 2006 Sheriff Ty Koch promoted him to Patrol Lieutenant, where he was responsible for supervising all of the patrol and conduct Criminal Investigations for the west area of Osage County.
In 2020 Sheriff Eddie Virden promoted him to Jail Lieutenant, where he supervises the everyday functions of the day to day operations of the Osage County Detention Center and Transportation Division. After Captain Charlie Cartwright retired in 2021 he was promoted to Jail Administrator/Captain.
In 2022 William was promoted to Captain of Investigations.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Willy’s family and everyone affected by this event.
Dwight Barnard
02/18/1943 – 09/02/2011
Osage County Deputy Dwight Barnard, 68, passed away Tuesday, September 20, 2011, at his home in Burbank.
Dwight was born February 18, 1943, in Ponca City, Oklahoma, the son of Jim and Katie (Stingley) Barnard. A veteran, he served in the U. S. Army during the Vietnam Era. He was a member of the Masonic Lodges in Pawhuska and Fairfax, the Shriners and the Pawhuska Elks Lodge.
Dwight served in law enforcement for 40 years. Most of that time was with the Osage County Sheriff’s Office, where he retired in 2005. Shortly thereafter, he returned to the Sheriff’s Office as a part-time commissioned officer, where he remained until his death. Dwight also worked at the Fairfax Police Department from 1986 to 1991.
Dwight Barnard is survived by his wife, Marcella; her three children, Cliff Self, Derrick Self, and Kirby Yates; His sons, Greg and Jay Barnard; His mother, Katie Barnard; His sister, Lu Ann Christian and her husband, Dwight; His brother, Steve Barnard and his wife, Donna; His grandchildren, Bryce, Blake, Sarah Elizabeth, Kayla Marie, and Hunter Barnard; and a multitude of other family, co-workers, and friends. Dwight was preceded in death by his father.
Dwight was laid to rest Friday, September 23, 2011, in the Burbank Cemetery, Burbank, Oklahoma with honors performed by the Masonic Lodge and Osage County Law Enforcement. Services were held at the First Baptist Church in Pawhuska, Oklahoma with Rev. George Weston officiating.
Adam Mehagan
01/24/1984 – 12/03/2009
Osage County Deputy Sheriff Adam Michael Mehagan, 25, of Skiatook and formerly of the Bartlesville/Dewey area, died early Thursday morning of injuries sustained in an auto accident in the line of duty in Osage County.
Adam was born in Bartlesville, Oklahoma on January 25, 1984, the son of Michael Ray and Patricia Ann (Catlin) Mehagan. He spent his early years in Bartlesville attending Jane Phillips Elementary School through the fifth grade. He began attended Dewey Schools in the sixth grade and graduated from Dewey High School in 2002 where he had played football for four years.
During his junior and senior years, he also attended Tri-County Tech where he was active in the DECA program and won state in the debate competition. He then continued his education at Rogers State in Bartlesville and Claremore and also at the University of Texas at Arlington, Texas. He was married to Amber Jean Woods on July 5, 2008, at the Rejoice Church in Owasso, Oklahoma. They made their home in Arlington, Texas where he managed Adam’s Custom Cabinets. Focusing on a career in law enforcement, he had served as a correctional officer in Wichita Falls, Texas, had been a dispatcher and detention officer for the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in Bartlesville and had served as a Reserve Police Officer at Ramona, Oklahoma. He became a full-time police officer at the Pawhuska Oklahoma Police Department and graduated from the Oklahoma CLEET Academy in 2007. He joined the Osage County Sheriff’s Office in February of 2009 as a transport officer and became a night shift deputy sheriff in August of 2009. He loved OU football, the Dallas Cowboys, hunting, fishing, and golf and was a dog lover.
Survivors include his wife, Amber Jean Mehagan of the home in Skiatook, one daughter, Lena Rae Mehagan, age one of the home in Skiatook, his mother, Patty Catlin/Walker and her companion, Frank Ball of Dewey, his father, Mike Mehagan and his wife, Marion of Arlington, Texas, one sister, Jennifer Mehagan and her companion, Bryan Hudson of Dewey, three step-brothers, Austen Kocher and Alex Kocher both of Arlington, Texas, and Jamie Ball with the U.S. Army at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, his maternal grandparents, Wanda and Bert (Podge) Catlin of Bartlesville, his father-in-law, David Lee Woods Sr. and his companion Andrea Vanstory of Sperry, 4 nieces and nephews, Kierra Hudson, Bryson Hudson, Wyatt Woods and Gracelyn Woods, two sister-in-laws, Christy Woods and Madison Vanstory and a number of aunts, uncles and cousins, and his two spoiled dogs, Hannah June and Casey Rae.
Funeral services for Deputy Mehagan were held at 2 P.M. Monday, December 7, 2009, at the Highland Park Baptist Church in Bartlesville with his uncle, Evangelist Jerry Catlin of Bethany, Oklahoma officiating. Interment will be in the Memorial Park Cemetery where full Law Enforcement Honors will be accorded. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Stumpff Funeral Home & Crematory.
Casket escorts will include Joey Rogers, Dale Hunter, Johnny Adams, Justin Golden, David Bradley, Jordan Holland, Steve Solomon, and Derand Catlin.
A memorial fund has been established in memory of Adam and donations may be sent to the Adam Michael Mehagan Memorial Fund, c/o Citizen’s Bank, P.O. Box 27, Pawhuska, Oklahoma, 74056.
John Boone
06/02/1946 – 06/12/2008
Osage County Deputy John “Chief” Boone passed away Thursday, June 12th, 2008 in Naples, Florida. He was 62 years old.
John, a veteran Law Enforcement Officer, began his career with the Pawhuska Police Department on August 10th, 1970. In October of 1983, He was promoted to Chief of Police. It was in this position he served until his retirement in September of 1997 after 27 years in Law Enforcement.
John hired on with the Osage County Sheriff’s Office on July 1st, 2000 and worked as the Courthouse Deputy until he became the Civil Deputy within this office. He held this position until his untimely passing. John was a member of the Oklahoma Sheriff’s and Peace Officer’s Association and the Pawhuska Elks Lodge. In his spare time, he enjoyed golfing, fishing, camping and softball. John was also very active and a longstanding member of his church parish.
John made a positive influence on many lives during his career and was a friend to all…he will be greatly missed.
Wes Penland
01/01/1942 – 04/09/2005
On behalf of the Penland Family and the Osage County Sheriff’s Office, we regretfully announce the death of Sheriff Wes Penland.
Sheriff Penland passed away at his home early Saturday, April 9, 2005. Services were be held at the First Baptist Church, 302 E 6th in Pawhuska at 10 A.M. on Tuesday, April 12th.
Sheriff Wes Penland began his law enforcement career in 1989 under Sheriff George Waymon.
Sheriff Penland served under three Sheriffs and was appointed Sheriff in October 2004 when Sheriff Russell Cottle retired. He was then elected Sheriff in November 2004.
During his career, he served in every position of the Sheriff’s Office. He had professional training in the areas of death investigations, advanced bloodstain pattern analysis, internal affairs, advanced homicide investigations, sheriff’s office management, interview, and interrogation techniques, arson investigations, gang investigations, search and seizure, and many others.
Sheriff Penland received many commendations from other law enforcement agencies and private citizens. He held special commissions from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the Kay County Sheriff’s Office, the United States Marshal’s Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
While serving in law enforcement he was a member of a number of various organizations including the Oklahoma Sheriff’s and Peace Officer’s Association, the Oklahoma Sheriff’s Association, the Law Enforcement Demographer’s Association, and the Oklahoma Gang Investigator’s Association.
As Sheriff of Osage County, Sheriff Penland’s goal was teamwork and cooperation. This included working with all area law enforcement agencies, schools, rural fire departments, EMTs, DHS, etc., to provide a safe jail, to provide employees with a feeling of job security, to work with budget guidelines, to treat all citizens in a fair and equitable manner, and operate an office that represents and answers to the citizens of Osage County.
Wes Penland became an Osage County resident in 1983 and is survived by his wife Nancy, two daughters and seven grandchildren.