On May 12, 1967 at 1:00 pm, Officer Paul Oatman was driving his tri-car motorcycle east on Arsenal. Officer Arsenal entered the intersection of Grand Avenue on a green light and was struck by a patrol car from another agency. The other patrol car was transporting a child to the hospital. Officer Oatman was pronounced dead on arrival at City Hospital #1.

Officer Oatman was a Merit Patrolman and had served with the agency for ten years, joining in 1957. He was survived by his wife and four children.