El Reno turned a downtown brick wall into a public love letter on Thursday, unveiling a bright, sprawling mural for Sgt. Thomas Duran, the police officer fatally injured in a hit-and-run while helping a pedestrian last October. The tribute covers the side of a building at Watts and Wilson Avenue, with a sweeping American flag behind Duran’s badge and the words “thank you for your service and sacrifice” splashed across the bottom. Family members, city officials and fellow officers joined the ribbon-cutting, and the entire project came together through community donations.
According to News 9, El Reno Police Chief Ken Brown described Duran as “a man of strong faith, honesty and compassion,” and said the mural carries deep meaning for the family. The city hosted the ceremony just down the street from where the crash happened, turning a painful landmark into a permanent show of gratitude.
Artist and fundraising
Local artist Sue Bear led the creative charge, sketching and painting the mural with help from neighbors and other artists, KOCO reports. The building’s owner offered up the wall as a canvas, and organizers said donations, including a community GoFundMe, covered everything from paint to scaffolding and other supplies.
Design and location
The finished piece anchors the corner of Watts and Wilson Avenue, centered on a stylized police badge set against a billowing American flag, with “thank you for your service and sacrifice” painted beneath, per News 9. The station reports the work took about a month to complete and now stretches across the side of a downtown storefront, turning an everyday traffic route into a quiet spot of remembrance.
Officers and family react
Patrol officers have been rolling past the mural as it came together, watching it evolve panel by panel. Assistant Chief Kirk Dickerson said the department has followed the progress with pride, according to KOCO. At the unveiling, Duran’s relatives and colleagues gathered to lay flowers beneath the wall and share memories of his years serving El Reno.
Sgt. Duran was hit by a vehicle on Oct. 17 while assisting a pedestrian and died in the hospital on Oct. 24, and officials noted he was an organ donor, according to Police1. The mural now stands as a visible, everyday memorial in downtown El Reno as the community continues to honor his sacrifice.
