On August 1, 1927, Deputy Arthur Osborn was attempting to arrest Herman Barker. Barker had cashed some stolen bank bonds at the American National Bank in Cheyenne. Deputy Osborn had flagged down the Barker vehicle and was approaching it when Barker picked up a gun from the vehicle seat and shot Osborn. Barker was later shot and apprehended in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Barker was the son of “Ma” Barker.

Detective Charles Gatza, Jr, was killed on July 1 1934, in a traffic accident while returning from Laramie, Wyoming. Prior to the accident, Detective Gatza had been rescuing victims of an explosion on West Lincoln Way in Cheyenne for two days, non-stop. He was reported to have fallen asleep at the wheel on his return trip.

Sheriff Frank McFarlane died on August 23, 1927, while transporting two prisoners 7 miles east of Thermopolis. The vehicle they were traveling in went over a 100 foot embankment and it is unknown if there was a problem with either prisoner. Sheriff McFarlane died on the scene.

​Park County Sheriff’s Office


Special Deputy Argento was sworn in as a posse member on March 22, 1939, by Sheriff Blackburn. The posse was pursuing Park County escapee Earl Durand on March 23, 1939.
Argento and Special Deputy Orville Linaberry were following fresh tracks up a hill near Clark’s Fork Canyon when Durand shot and killed them both from a hidden location.