GLENN D. SHIRLEY

The law enforcement career of Glenn D. Shirley began in the 1930s and lasted for more than thirty years. He served on the Stillwater Police Department for twenty-one years, rising to the rank of captain and assistant chief of police. Shirley served at a time where he witnessed the development of modern law enforcement systems such as the use of two-way radios, traffic radars, along with fingerprint and identification record systems.

In 1937 Glenn received a diploma in criminology from the Institute of Applied Science. Shirley participated in the creation of professional law enforcement training programs in Oklahoma. Following his law enforcement career, Glenn Shirley focused on his writing career, specializing in books and articles about Oklahoma lawmen and outlaws. Writing over two dozen books and hundreds of articles, Glenn became known as a leading authority on law enforcement history. These books included biographies of Oklahoma lawmen Bill Tilghman, Heck Thomas, and Bud Ledbetter. For many years, Glenn contributed regularly to the Oklahoma State Trooper magazine. Thanks to Glenn Shirley, today we can know those Oklahoma lawmen who pursued outlaws on horseback. His work is based on attention to detail, painstaking research, and dedication to the truth.

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