Services planned for retired officer

By Staff Reports

8/21/2007

David Henry Harper, a retired Tulsa police officer, died Sunday. He was 60.

A memorial service will begin at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Freeman Harris Funeral Home Chapel.

Harper was born April 1, 1947, in Tulsa to Irene and John Harper and graduated from Webster High School in 1965. He then attended Northeastern State University until he was drafted to the military in 1966.

Harper served in the Navy during the Vietnam War and was honorably discharged in 1970. He married Barbara Criner in 1976.

Harper attended the Tulsa Police Academy in 1971, graduating in January 1972.

A member of the Tulsa police force for 28 years, Harper spent 21 years on patrol and the last seven years of his career as a burglary detective.

He was nominated for Tulsa Police Officer of the Year in the late 1990s.

During his police career, Harper founded, owned and operated Protective Services of Tulsa, a business that is now owned and operated by his children.

He was part of the Harley Owners Group in Tulsa.

Harper is survived by his wife, Barbara Harper; two children, Courtney Harper of Tulsa and John Harper II of Tulsa; and two siblings, Benjamin Harper of Owasso and Doris Smith of Tulsa.

Copyright Tulsa World 2007. Format differs from original publication.