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Officer Down: Sergeant Les Wilmott

Age: 54

Cause of Death: Automobile accident

Sergeant Les Wilmott was killed when his patrol car collided with the rear of a tractor trailer on US Highway 169, shortly after midnight.

Sergeant Wilmott had served in law enforcement for 30 years and had previously serves as police chief for the Inola Police Department, the Beggs Police Department, the Jenks Police Department, and the Rogers County Sheriff's Department.

Oklahoma officer killed in cruiser crash

By Emily Holman and Kelly Hines
The Tulsa World

OOLOGAH, Okla. — A veteran officer who worked for the Kiefer Police Department was killed early Thursday in a collision near his hometown of Oologah in Rogers County.

Sgt. Les Wilmott, 54, died at the scene of the crash on northbound U.S. 169 at Oklahoma 88 shortly after midnight, according to an Oklahoma Highway Patrol accident report.

Wilmott's patrol car, a 1998 Ford Crown Victoria, ran into a tractor-trailer rig, troopers reported. The semi's driver, Luis A. Lara, 33, of Laredo, Texas, was not injured, nor was his passenger.

The cause of the collision is unknown, the report stated.

Kiefer Police Chief Stacey White said the day Wilmott decided to work for Kiefer police 2? years ago was good for the entire department.

"At times, I feel like although I have the title of chief, I worked for him because I was always asking him for advice," White said. "He was a mentor and a friend to everyone here. He was, in my opinion, as close to the perfect cop as you could ask for.

"There wasn't a person in this department that did not look up to him or would hesitate to go to him for advice," White said. "He was always there to give a listening ear."

Wilmott had been in law enforcement

for 33 years, according to the Kiefer Police Web site. He previously served as police chief for Inola and Beggs. He also worked for Jenks and Claremore police and the Rogers County sheriff's office.

Creek County Undersheriff Rick Ishmael, who worked with Wilmott for 25 years, said Wilmott dedicated his life to helping people.

"He was plain and simple type of guy who had a big heart, and he didn't like to see people victimized," Ishmael said. "He truly cared about people and helping people."

Ishmael said Wilmott was like a sheep dog looking out for the herd.

"Les was a man's man," Ishmael said. "He was a sheep dog that looked over the flock because his life was about protecting the flock of sheep from the wolves."

Wilmott's son Jake said Wilmott worked hard for his family.

"All of his spare time was spent with his family. He was a very loving guy," his son said.

His son said that along with his love for law enforcement, Wilmott enjoyed going to church, hunting, shooting and watching his kids play sports. Wilmott was working toward a degree in criminal justice at Northeastern State University at Broken Arrow and would have graduated in December.

"He's going to be deeply missed by both his true family and his law enforcement family," Ishmael said. "He was as good and honest and decent of a law enforcement officer as anyone I've had the privilege to meet or work with."

A memorial service is set for 10 a.m. Saturday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Stake Center 12110 E. Seventh St. in Tulsa. A graveside service will follow at Gracelawn Cemetery in Claremore. Both are under the direction of Rice Funeral Service in Claremore.

Survivors include his wife, Jerrianne, of Oologah; a daughter, Robbin Elizabeth Becker, of Edmond; sons, Jacob "Jake" Thomas Wilmott of Oologah and Matthew Wilmott of Edmond; two grandchildren; his parents, George and Anita Wilmott; and a sister, Bonnie Fletcher.

Copyright 2008 The Tulsa World